Identify the amino acid carried by tRNAs with the following anticodon sequences.

5′-AAA-3′

Key Concepts

tRNA and Anticodons

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein. Each tRNA has a specific anticodon that pairs with a corresponding codon on the mRNA. The anticodon sequence is crucial for ensuring that the correct amino acid is added during protein synthesis.

Codon-Amino Acid Relationship

In the genetic code, a codon is a sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid. The relationship between codons and amino acids is defined by the genetic code, which is universal among most organisms. Understanding this relationship is essential for determining which amino acid corresponds to a given tRNA anticodon.

Amino Acid Specificity

Each tRNA molecule is linked to a specific amino acid, which it carries to the ribosome during protein synthesis. The amino acid associated with a tRNA is determined by the anticodon sequence it possesses. For the anticodon 5′-AAA-3′, the corresponding codon on mRNA is 5′-UUU-3′, which codes for the amino acid phenylalanine.