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cotranslational
This term is a highly specialized technical adjective used almost exclusively within molecular biology and biochemistry. It describes a precise temporal relationship where a biological event, such as protein folding or modification, occurs at the same time as the translation of mRNA into a polypeptide chain.
It is distinct from post-translational processes, which occur after the polypeptide chain has been fully synthesized and released from the ribosome. Because it describes a specific biochemical mechanism, it is typically paired with nouns like folding, modification, or translocation to specify exactly which event is happening during translation.
Meanings
Occurring or happening simultaneously with the process of translation, specifically referring to biological events that take place while a ribosome is synthesizing a polypeptide chain from an mRNA template.
The cotranslational folding of proteins ensures that the polypeptide reaches its functional three-dimensional shape as it emerges from the ribosome.