What role does tRNA play?

What role does tRNA play?

• A. It carries amino acids and matches anticodons to codons
• B. It catalyzes peptide bonds
• C. It forms ribosomal subunits
• D. It encodes genetic information

Answer: (A)

tRNA acts as the adaptor in translation: it carries a specific amino acid and has an anticodon that base-pairs with a complementary codon on the mRNA. This dual role ensures that the amino acid attached to the tRNA is added in the exact order dictated by the genetic code. The amino acid is attached to the tRNA by a specific enzyme (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase), pairing the correct amino acid with its tRNA before it participates in protein synthesis. Inside the ribosome, the aminoacyl-tRNA donates its amino acid to the growing polypeptide, and peptide bonds are formed there. The other ideas don’t fit because peptide bonds are catalyzed by the ribosome, ribosomal subunits are built from rRNA and proteins, and genetic information is encoded in DNA (transcribed to mRNA).

tRNA acts as the adaptor in translation: it carries a specific amino acid and has an anticodon that base-pairs with a complementary codon on the mRNA. This dual role ensures that the amino acid attached to the tRNA is added in the exact order dictated by the genetic code. The amino acid is attached to the tRNA by a specific enzyme (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase), pairing the correct amino acid with its tRNA before it participates in protein synthesis. Inside the ribosome, the aminoacyl-tRNA donates its amino acid to the growing polypeptide, and peptide bonds are formed there. The other ideas don’t fit because peptide bonds are catalyzed by the ribosome, ribosomal subunits are built from rRNA and proteins, and genetic information is encoded in DNA (transcribed to mRNA).