Question

What happens when the ribosome reaches a stop codon?

Answer 1

1. The ribosome moves forward on the m-RNA, one codon at a time and finally reaches the termination codon (UAA/ UAG/ UGA).
2. As termination codon does not code for any amino acid, the polypeptide chain breaks and the protein molecule is seperated.
3. Now, the polypeptide chain (protein molecule) is released from the t-RNA and also from the ribosome.
4. m- RNA separates from ribosomes and the ribosomal subunits separate from each other.

[Reference: http://kvhs.nbed.nb.ca/gallant/biology/translation_termination.html]