Final answer:
Codons on mRNA bind to the anticodons on tRNAs through hydrogen bonds. The anticodon on a tRNA determines its pairing with a mRNA codon, regardless of the amino acid modification on the tRNA itself. This pairing is essential for the accurate translation of genetic information into proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The codons on mRNA bind to the anticodons on tRNAs through hydrogen bonds. Codon-anticodon interactions are crucial for the accurate translation of the genetic code into proteins. Each three-nucleotide codon on the mRNA corresponds to one amino acid, and tRNAs are the molecules that carry these amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain. The anticodon of a tRNA is a specialized sequence tailored to match a specific codon through complementary base pairing, which is facilitated by hydrogen bonds.
Concerning the scenario where a tRNA's anticodon is chemically modified, the tRNA would still recognize and bind to the codon in the mRNA that is complementary to its anticodon. It would not change its specificity to the codon that matches the modified amino acid it carries. The recognition is solely based on the anticodon-codon pairing.
The specificity of the codon-anticodon interaction is integral to the role of tRNA as an adaptor molecule in protein synthesis. Besides recognizing the correct codon in the mRNA, tRNAs must also be recognized by the correct aminoacyl tRNA synthetase and fit accurately within the ribosome to facilitate the addition of amino acids to the growing peptide chain.