TRNA
Transfer RNA molecules (tRNA's) are small RNA molecules usually approximately 80 nucleotides in length, that function as adaptor molecules during the translation of mRNA into an amino acid sequence[1].
Structure
The structure of tRNA arises through the ability of RNA to fold into three-dimensional shapes using Watson and Crick base pairing. If there are large enough regions of overlap tRNA will fold into a shape that resembles a cloverleaf. This will undergo further folding, by hydrogen bonding, to form a compact L-shaped structure.[1]
The cloverleaf structure of tRNA is composed of an anticodon, a triplet of nucleotides that is complementary to corresponding codons on mRNA nolecules. tRNAS also have a short single stranded region at a tRNAs 3' end where amino acids that match an mRNA codon are attached[2].
Function
The amino acids that bond to produce a protein do not bind to mRNA. They require an adaptor molecule to bind to mRNA at one point and to the amino acid at another. This adaptor molecule is tRNA.
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Snustad, D. Peter. (2010). Principles Of Genetics.Hobeken: Wiley &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Sons Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "null" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Champe et al.(2008). Biochemistry. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams &amp;amp; Wilkins