Stop codon
Stop Codon
A Stop Codon (pronounced: /stɒp 'koʊdɒn/) is a nucleotide triplet within messenger RNA that signals the end of translation.
Etymology
The term "Stop Codon" is derived from the English words "stop", meaning to cease or end, and "codon", which is a sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.
Function
In the process of gene expression, stop codons play a crucial role. They signal the termination of protein synthesis by binding to a release factor, which causes the release of the newly formed polypeptide chain from the ribosome. The three stop codons recognized in the standard genetic code are UAA, UAG, and UGA.
Related Terms
- Start Codon: A specific sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that signals the start of translation and the first amino acid in a polypeptide sequence.
- Codon: A sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.
- Translation (biology): The process in which cellular ribosomes create proteins.
- Messenger RNA: A subtype of RNA that carries the genetic information copied from DNA in the form of a series of three-base code “words,” each of which specifies a particular amino acid.
- Nucleotide: The basic building block of nucleic acids. RNA and DNA are polymers made of long chains of nucleotides.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Stop codon
- Wikipedia's article - Stop codon
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