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

5′-AUG-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 to the growing polypeptide chain 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 codon 5′-AUG-3′ is known as the start codon and codes for the amino acid methionine. Understanding this relationship is crucial for determining which amino acid corresponds to a given tRNA anticodon.

Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and there are 20 standard amino acids that combine in various sequences to form proteins. The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its structure and function. During translation, the ribosome facilitates the assembly of amino acids into a polypeptide chain based on the sequence of codons in the mRNA.