Initiation of protein synthesis includes binding of mRNA to small ribosome subunit and initiation aminoacyl tRNA. The pairing of the anticodon of the initiating aminoacyl tRNA and initiation codon of mRNA requires GTP hydrolysis and marks the beginning of protein synthesis.
Elongation stage of protein synthesis requires movement of the ribosome along the mRNA which in turn is facilitated by GTP hydrolysis. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, the codon of mRNA bind to the respective anticodon of aminoacyl tRNA by using the energy of GTP hydrolysis. The GTPase activity of elongation factor Ef-Tu ensures the fidelity of the process.
The release factors that recognize the stop codon and serve to mark the termination of protein synthesis use the energy of GTP hydrolysis during the process.
