Transfer RNA (tRNA): Difference between revisions
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'''tRNA''' or transfer RNA plays a key role in translation, the process of synthesizing proteins from amino acids in a sequence specified by information contained in messenger RNA. During this process, triplets of nucleotides (codons) of the messenger RNA are translated according to the genetic code into one of the 20 amino acids. tRNAs serve as the dictionary in this translation process. [[Image:Translation RNA amino acid.png|right|thumb|350px|Translation of RNA sequence into protein sequence]] They contain a specific triplet nucleotide sequence, the anticodon, and they get attached to a specific (cognate) amino acid. During protein synthesis by ribosomes, tRNAs deliver the correct amino acids through interactions of their anticodon region with the complementary codons on the messenger RNA. Apart from their distinct anticodon regions, different tRNAs have very similar structures, allowing them to all fit into the tRNA-binding sites on the ribosome. | '''tRNA''' or transfer RNA plays a key role in translation, the process of synthesizing proteins from amino acids in a sequence specified by information contained in messenger RNA. During this process, triplets of nucleotides (codons) of the messenger RNA are translated according to the genetic code into one of the 20 amino acids. tRNAs serve as the dictionary in this translation process. [[Image:Translation RNA amino acid.png|right|thumb|350px|Translation of RNA sequence into protein sequence]] They contain a specific triplet nucleotide sequence, the anticodon, and they get attached to a specific (cognate) amino acid. During protein synthesis by ribosomes, tRNAs deliver the correct amino acids through interactions of their anticodon region with the complementary codons on the messenger RNA. Apart from their distinct anticodon regions, different tRNAs have very similar structures, allowing them to all fit into the tRNA-binding sites on the ribosome. | ||
<StructureSection load='' size='350' side='right' scene='43/433638/Fullview_cartoon/ | <StructureSection load='' size='350' side='right' scene='43/433638/Fullview_cartoon/13' caption=''> | ||
==Structure== | ==Structure== | ||
[[Image:TRNA phe yeast.png|left|thumb|Standard 2D cloverleaf structure of tRNA. The shown example is phenylalanine-specific tRNA from yeast]]tRNA is a stable, folded type of RNA present in all living cells. The secondary structure of most tRNA<ref>PMID:4601792</ref><ref>PMID:4612535</ref> is composed of four helical stems (shown in cyan, blue, red and yellow) arranged in a cloverleaf structure and an central four-way junction. <scene name='43/433638/Wireframe/1'>In three dimensions</scene>, tRNA adopts an "L" shape, with the <jmol> | [[Image:TRNA phe yeast.png|left|thumb|Standard 2D cloverleaf structure of tRNA. The shown example is phenylalanine-specific tRNA from yeast]]tRNA is a stable, folded type of RNA present in all living cells. The secondary structure of most tRNA<ref>PMID:4601792</ref><ref>PMID:4612535</ref> is composed of four helical stems (shown in cyan, blue, red and yellow) arranged in a cloverleaf structure and an central four-way junction. <scene name='43/433638/Wireframe/1'>In three dimensions</scene>, tRNA adopts an "L" shape, with the <jmol> | ||