This process continues
until the ribosome encounter a "stop" codon. A stop codon is a series of three
mRNA bases coding for no amino acid and thus terminates the protein chain.
UAA, UAG, UGA are the three stop codons in the genetic code. Stop codons
do not code for an amino acid because they cannot be recognized by a tRNA.
Proteins called release factors
free the protein from the tRNA and the two ribosomal subunits come apart
to be recycled. During this elongation process, the protein has assumed
its three-dimensional functional shape.
