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

5′-CUC-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 sequence that is complementary to a corresponding codon on the mRNA. This pairing ensures that the correct amino acid is added during protein synthesis.

Codon-Amino Acid Relationship

The genetic code consists of codons, which are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids. Each codon specifies one amino acid, and the relationship between codons and amino acids is universal across most organisms. Understanding this relationship is crucial for determining which amino acid is associated with a given tRNA anticodon.

Amino Acid Identification

To identify the amino acid carried by a tRNA with a specific anticodon, one must first determine the corresponding mRNA codon. For the anticodon 5′-CUC-3′, the complementary mRNA codon is 5′-GAG-3′. Referring to the genetic code chart, GAG codes for the amino acid glutamic acid, which is essential for various metabolic processes.