What is one major difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes with respect to translation?

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Translation or protein synthesis is a process during which the genetic information is translated, following the dictations of the genetic code, into the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain. The synthesis of all proteins required for the cell is coded on genetic material DNA, which is transcribed to mRNA and translated to proteins. In simple words, Translation is a process in living cells in which the genetic information encoded in messenger RNA(mRNA) called genetic code in the form of a sequence of nucleotide triplets (codons) is translated into a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain during protein synthesis.

Prokaryotic Translation vs Eukaryotic Translation


Coupled Transcription and translation. It is a continuous process as both transcription and translation occur in cytoplasm.	It is a discontinuous process as transcription occurs in nucleus while translation on cytoplasm.
As there is coupled transcription and translation. Therefore little mRNA processing	Extensive pre mRNA processing Removal of introns & joining of exons Addition of 5’ cap (7methyl guanosine)
mRNA with information for many proteins under a single control	mRNA with information for only one protein or polypeptide under a single control
It occurs on 70 S Ribosomes -Consists of 2 subunits, 50S larger subunit and 30S smaller subunit.	It occurs on 80 S Ribosomes. -Consists of 2 subunits, 60S larger subunit and 40S smaller subunit
Ribosome small subunit (30S) binds to Shine Dalgarno sequence during translation initiation and further detection of initiation codon	The 43S preinitiation complex (43S PIC) binds to the 5’ 7MeG cap of eukaryotic mRNA. Moves in 5’---3’ direction and finds AUG codon Presence of Kozak sequence (sequence in Eukaryotes with start codon favoring efficient initiation and translation)
Initiator tRNA is formyl methionyl tRNA (f Met tRNA) which codes for formyl methionine	Initiator tRNA is methionyl tRNA (Met tRNA) that codes for methionine
3 Initiation factors involved: IF1: binds to 30S subunit and prevents premature entry of tRNA to A site IF2-GTP: helps in binding of fMEt tRNA to 30S subunit IF3: binds to 30S subunit and prevents premature binding of 50S subunit and facilitates mRNA binding	Complex process involving ~12 eIFs (Eukaryotic initiation factors) -eIF1 and eIF1A, eIF2, eIF3, eIF4A, eIF4E, eIF4G, eIF4F, eIF5, eIF5A, eIF5B, eIF6
EF-Tu: bringing aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) to A site of the ribosome EF-Ts: generates active EFTu EF-G: Translocation EF-P: Involved in peptide bond synthesis	eEF1α: bringing aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) to A site of the ribosome eEF1 βϒ : generates active eEF1α: eEF2 :Translocation EEIF5A: Involved in peptide bond synthesis
RF1: Release factor for stop codons UAA &UAG RF2: Release factor for stop codons UAA &UGA RF3: facilitates binding of RF1 and RF2 to ribosome	eRF1: recognizes all three stop codons
Post translational modifications (PTMs): Relatively low number of PTMs in comparison with eukaryotic proteins. Occurs in cytoplasm Removal of formyl methionine	Extensive post translational modification Primarily Occurs in ER and Golgi before becoming a fully functional protein.
mRNA half life is short( few seconds to minutes) as mRNA is unstable.	mRNA has a half life of few hours to few days; it is quite stable.
It is a faster process, adds up to 17-21 amino acid residues per second.	Comparatively slower. Adds (up to 6-9 amino acid residues per second).

MCQ on translation

The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is considered to be the most important distinction among groups of organisms. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, while prokaryotic cells do not. Differences in cellular structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes include the presence of mitochondria and chloroplasts, the cell wall, and the structure of chromosomal DNA.

Prokaryotes were the only form of life on Earth for millions of years until more complicated eukaryotic cells came into being through the process of evolution.

Eukaryotic Cell versus Prokaryotic Cell comparison chart

	Eukaryotic Cell	Prokaryotic Cell
Nucleus	Present	Absent
Number of chromosomes	More than one	One--but not true chromosome: Plasmids
Cell Type	Usually multicellular	Usually unicellular (some cyanobacteria may be multicellular)
True Membrane bound Nucleus	Present	Absent
Example	Animals and Plants	Bacteria and Archaea
Genetic Recombination	Meiosis and fusion of gametes	Partial, undirectional transfers DNA
Lysosomes and peroxisomes	Present	Absent
Microtubules	Present	Absent or rare
Endoplasmic reticulum	Present	Absent
Mitochondria	Present	Absent
Cytoskeleton	Present	May be absent
DNA wrapping on proteins.	Eukaryotes wrap their DNA around proteins called histones.	Multiple proteins act together to fold and condense prokaryotic DNA. Folded DNA is then organized into a variety of conformations that are supercoiled and wound around tetramers of the HU protein.
Ribosomes	larger	smaller
Vesicles	Present	Present
Golgi apparatus	Present	Absent
Chloroplasts	Present (in plants)	Absent; chlorophyll scattered in the cytoplasm
Flagella	Microscopic in size; membrane bound; usually arranged as nine doublets surrounding two singlets	Submicroscopic in size, composed of only one fiber
Permeability of Nuclear Membrane	Selective	not present
Plasma membrane with steroid	Yes	Usually no
Cell wall	Only in plant cells and fungi (chemically simpler)	Usually chemically complex
Vacuoles	Present	Present
Cell size	10-100um	1-10um

Prokaryotes (pro-KAR-ee-ot-es) (from Old Greek pro- before + karyon nut or kernel, referring to the cell nucleus, + suffix -otos, pl. -otes; also spelled "procaryotes") are organisms without a cell nucleus (= karyon), or any other membrane-bound organelles. Most are unicellular, but some prokaryotes are multicellular.

Eukaryotes (IPA: [juːˈkæɹɪɒt]) are organisms whose cells are organized into complex structures by internal membranes and a cytoskeleton. The most characteristic membrane bound structure is the nucleus. This feature gives them their name, (also spelled "eucaryote,") which comes from the Greek ευ, meaning good/true, and κάρυον, meaning nut, referring to the nucleus. Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are eukaryotes.

Differences Between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells

The difference between the structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes is so great that it is considered to be the most important distinction among groups of organisms.

The most fundamental difference is that eukaryotes do have "true" nuclei containing their DNA, whereas the genetic material in prokaryotes is not membrane-bound.

In eukaryotes, the mitochondria and chloroplasts perform various metabolic processes and are believed to have been derived from endosymbiotic bacteria. In prokaryotes similar processes occur across the cell membrane; endosymbionts are extremely rare.

The cell walls of prokaryotes are generally formed of a different molecule (peptidoglycan) to those of eukaryotes (many eukaryotes do not have a cell wall at all).

Prokaryotes are usually much smaller than eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryotes also differ from eukaryotes in that they contain only a single loop of stable chromosomal DNA stored in an area named the nucleoid, while eukaryote DNA is found on tightly bound and organised chromosomes. Although some eukaryotes have satellite DNA structures called plasmids, these are generally regarded as a prokaryote feature and many important genes in prokaryotes are stored on plasmids.

Prokaryotes have a larger surface area to volume ratio giving them a higher metabolic rate, a higher growth rate and consequently a shorter generation time compared to Eukaryotes.

Genes
- Prokaryotes also differ from eukaryotes in the structure, packing, density, and arrangement of their genes on the chromosome. Prokaryotes have incredibly compact genomes compared to eukaryotes, mostly because prokaryote genes lack introns and large non-coding regions between each gene.
- Whereas nearly 95% of the human genome does not code for proteins or RNA or includes a gene promoter, nearly all of the prokaryote genome codes or controls something.
- Prokaryote genes are also expressed in groups, known as operons, instead of individually, as in eukaryotes.
- In a prokaryote cell, all genes in an operon(three in the case of the famous lac operon) are transcribed on the same piece of RNA and then made into separate proteins, whereas if these genes were native to eukaryotes, they each would have their own promoter and be transcribed on their own strand of mRNA. This lesser degree of control over gene expression contributes to the simplicity of the prokaryotes as compared to the eukaryotes.