Question

In prokaryotic protein synthesis, N-formylmethionine (fmet) is the first amino acid incorporated, whereas (normal) methionine is incorporated in eukaryotes. The same codon (AUG) serves both. What prevents methionine from being inserted as the starting amino acid and fMet from being inserted in the protein interior in prokaryotic protein synthesis? (Select all that apply.)

Answer 1

Translation may be defined as the process of formation of protein from the RNA molecule with the help of enzymes and transcription factors. Transcription and translation is coupled in case of prokaryotes.

Different transfer RNAs are involved in the translation along with the different transcription factors. The initiation factor IF-2 recognises the fmet-tRNA in case of prokaryotes. EF-Tu recognizes metRNA in case of eukaryotes that prevent it to recognize the formylmethionine.