Final answer:
mRNA contains codons, which are sequences of three nucleotides. These codons interact with tRNA's anticodons to translate RNA into proteins. The tRNA anticodon pairs with its complementary mRNA codon regardless of any alteration to the amino acid it carries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Messenger RNA, commonly abbreviated as mRNA, is the type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. It contains codons, which are sequences of three nucleotides that correspond to specific amino acids or stop signals during protein synthesis. The codon-anticodon interaction is a crucial aspect of translation, where tRNA molecules pair their anticodons with the matching mRNA codons. For instance, if an mRNA codon is CUA, the tRNA with the anticodon GAU would bind to it, carrying the appropriate amino acid – in this case, leucine.
Each tRNA has a specific three-nucleotide anticodon sequence to pair with the mRNA codon and is also bound to a specific amino acid dictated by the tRNA's shape and the complementarity to the mRNA's sequence. It is important to note that while there are 64 possible codons, only 61 code for amino acids and the rest are stop codons signaling the end of the protein synthesis process.
When there is a question about a tRNA that carries a different amino acid than the one specified by its anticodon, the tRNA will still recognize the codon in the mRNA as dictated by its anticodon sequence, regardless of the amino acid alteration.