What roles do messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) play in the process of protein synthesis?
Messenger RNA (mRNA) serves as the template for protein synthesis by carrying genetic information from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome, where proteins are assembled. It is transcribed from the DNA sequence and undergoes processing to become mature mRNA, which is then exported to the cytoplasm. Transfer RNA (tRNA) plays a critical role by bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome, where the mRNA sequence is read in sets of three nucleotides (codons). Each tRNA molecule has an anticodon that is complementary to a specific mRNA codon and is "charged" with its corresponding amino acid. This coordination allows tRNA to ensure that the amino acids are linked together in the correct order, facilitating the translation of the mRNA sequence into a functional protein. Overall, mRNA provides the instructions, while tRNA delivers the building blocks needed to synthesize proteins.
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