The function of the release factor during translation in eukaryotes is to bind to the stop codon in the A site in place of a tRNA. Translation is the process by which the mRNA is used to make polypeptide chains and then proteins. The mRNA carries the codons which are read by the anticodon in the transfer RNA. Release factors allow the termination of translation by recognizing the termination codon or stop codon in an mRNA sequence.