What role does tRNA play in the translation process?

Answer 1

tRNA, or transfer RNA, plays a crucial role in the translation process of protein synthesis.

During translation, tRNA molecules bind to specific amino acids and transport them to the ribosomes, which are the cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis. Each tRNA molecule has a specific sequence of nucleotides, called an anticodon, which is complementary to the codon sequence on the mRNA molecule.

The ribosome uses the codon-anticodon pairing to ensure that the correct amino acid is added at each step of the translation process. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA molecule, tRNA molecules bring the required amino acids and bind them in the correct sequence dictated by the mRNA codons.

This process continues until a termination codon is reached, at which point the newly synthesized protein is released. Thus, tRNA acts as the adaptor molecule that matches mRNA codons with the corresponding amino acids, ensuring accurate and efficient translation of the genetic code into protein.