What are the differences between Protein Synthesis in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes?

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Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Prokaryotic Protein Synthesis

Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis

mRNA molecules

mRNA molecules are polycistronic and contain the coding sequences of several genes in a metabolic pathway

mRNA molecules are monocistronic and contain the coding sequence of only one peptide

Splicing

Neither splicing nor processing of the mRNA transcript occurs

The main mRNA transcript goes through processing and splicing to form a functional mRNA molecule

Presence of introns

Do not contain introns and only contain exons

Most of the genes contain introns as well as exons, the exons are joined together and introns become removed during mRNA processing

First methionine

The first methionine entering the ribosome is formylated into N formyl methionine

The methionine entering the ribosome is not formylated

Initiating factors

Its initiating factor are PIF-1, PIF-2, and PIF-3

Its initiating factors are eIF1-6, eIF4B, EIF4C,EIF4D, EIF4F

Where translation begins

Translation begins at the AUG codon

Translation begins through the 5’ cap binding the mRNA to the ribosomal unit at the first AUG codon

Transcription/translation events

Translation and transcription occurs simultaneously

Transcription occurs first and translation occurs subsequently

mRNA formation

Bacterial mRNA formation does not include the addition of a cap and poly A tail (except in archaebacteria)

mRNA formation includes the addition of a 5’ cap and poly A tail (of approximately 200 adenine nucleotides) at the 3’ end of a mRNA transcript

Basis of differentiation	Prokaryotic Protein Synthesis	Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis
mRNA molecules	mRNA molecules are polycistronic and contain the coding sequences of several genes in a metabolic pathway	mRNA molecules are monocistronic and contain the coding sequence of only one peptide
Splicing	Neither splicing nor processing of the mRNA transcript occurs	The main mRNA transcript goes through processing and splicing to form a functional mRNA molecule
Presence of introns	Do not contain introns and only contain exons	Most of the genes contain introns as well as exons, the exons are joined together and introns become removed during mRNA processing
First methionine	The first methionine entering the ribosome is formylated into N formyl methionine	The methionine entering the ribosome is not formylated
Initiating factors	Its initiating factor are PIF-1, PIF-2, and PIF-3	Its initiating factors are eIF1-6, eIF4B, EIF4C,EIF4D, EIF4F
Where translation begins	Translation begins at the AUG codon	Translation begins through the 5’ cap binding the mRNA to the ribosomal unit at the first AUG codon
Transcription/translation events	Translation and transcription occurs simultaneously	Transcription occurs first and translation occurs subsequently
mRNA formation	Bacterial mRNA formation does not include the addition of a cap and poly A tail (except in archaebacteria)	mRNA formation includes the addition of a 5’ cap and poly A tail (of approximately 200 adenine nucleotides) at the 3’ end of a mRNA transcript

Basis of differentiation

Prokaryotic Protein Synthesis

Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis

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