Question

What does 'charging' a tRNA entail?

A) Attaching the appropriate amino acid to the tRNA
B) Adding a phosphate group to the tRNA molecule
C) Fusing two tRNA molecules together
D) Modifying the anticodon sequence of the tRNA

Answer 1

Charging a tRNA involves attaching the appropriate amino acid to the tRNA, a process catalyzed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, with a specific enzyme for each amino acid.

Step-by-step explanation:

'Charging' a tRNA entails attaching the appropriate amino acid to the tRNA molecule. This is a crucial step in the process of protein synthesis, where tRNA molecules are linked to their correct amino acids by a group of enzymes called aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. There is at least one specific enzyme for each of the 20 amino acids, and this process is essential because tRNAs serve as adaptors that translate the language of RNA into the language of proteins. During the charging process, an amino acid is first activated by the addition of adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and after the activation, the amino acid is transferred to the tRNA, turning it into a 'charged' tRNA ready for protein synthesis.