Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which enzyme in the ribosome catalyzes the formation of the peptide bond during protein synthesis?
A
Peptidyl transferase
B
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
C
DNA ligase
D
RNA polymerase
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context of the problem: The question is asking about the enzyme responsible for catalyzing peptide bond formation during protein synthesis, which occurs in the ribosome.
Recall the process of protein synthesis: During translation, the ribosome facilitates the joining of amino acids carried by tRNA molecules to form a growing polypeptide chain. This process involves the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids.
Identify the enzyme involved: The ribosome itself has enzymatic activity, specifically in the large subunit, where the catalytic function is carried out by an RNA molecule rather than a protein. This RNA molecule is known as ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and the enzymatic activity is referred to as peptidyl transferase.
Eliminate incorrect options: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is involved in charging tRNA with amino acids, DNA ligase is involved in DNA repair and replication, and RNA polymerase is responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template. None of these are involved in peptide bond formation during translation.
Conclude that the correct answer is peptidyl transferase, which is the enzymatic activity of the ribosome responsible for catalyzing peptide bond formation during protein synthesis.