Elongation factor

[3] In bacteria, it proceeds at a rate of 15 to 20 amino acids added per second (about 45-60 nucleotides per second).

[citation needed] In eukaryotes the rate is about two amino acids per second (about 6 nucleotides read per second).

[citation needed] Elongation factors play a role in orchestrating the events of this process, and in ensuring the high accuracy translation at these speeds.

[7][8] In humans, they include TUFM, TSFM, GFM1, GFM2, GUF1; the nominal release factor MTRFR may also play a role in elongation.

[9] In bacteria, selenocysteinyl-tRNA requires a special elongation factor SelB (P14081) related to EF-Tu.

Ternary complex of EF-Tu (blue), tRNA (red) and GTP (yellow). Taken from PDB Molecule of the Month Elongation factors , September 2006.