Question

In order to charge a tRNA, ATP, a specific transfer RNA and a specific amino acid all bind to which enzyme?

Answer 1

The enzyme that ATP, a specific tRNA, and a specific amino acid all bind to for tRNA charging is called aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. This enzyme catalyzes the attachment of the correct amino acid to the tRNA, creating a charged tRNA ready for protein synthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

ATP, a specific transfer RNA (tRNA), and a specific amino acid all bind to an enzyme known as aminoacyl tRNA synthetase to charge a tRNA molecule. The charging process involves several steps:

1. ATP and the amino acid bind to the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.
2. ATP is hydrolyzed, releasing pyrophosphate (PPi), and forming an enzyme-AMP-amino acid complex.
3. The amino acid is then transferred from the enzyme to the tRNA, regenerating the enzyme and producing a charged tRNA that is ready for translation in protein synthesis.

This enzymatic reaction ensures that each tRNA molecule is linked to its correct or cognate amino acid, which is a critical step in the process of protein synthesis.