Figure 1.

The codon-based model for mRNA translation. The codon-based lattice model for mRNA translation. The mRNA is represented by a one-dimensional lattice with each site being one codon on the mRNA. The ribosome attaches the leftmost end of the mRNA (initiation, the entry event) at some rate α, hops one codon towards its right (elongation, the hopping event) at some rate γ (possibly codon dependent) and exits from the rightmost point (termination, the exit event) at some rate β. Multiple ribosomes can be on the mRNA simultaneously.