Final answer:
Amino acids are attached to transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, not DNA, during translation. tRNA is charged with the correct amino acid by the enzyme aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. This complex then participates in protein synthesis at the ribosome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amino acids are not attached to DNA molecules for translation; instead, they are linked to transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules. During the process of protein synthesis, the sequence of DNA is first transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which serves as a template for translation. Amino acids in the cytoplasm are carried to the ribosome by tRNA molecules during translation. Each tRNA has a specific anticodon that pairs with a corresponding codon on the mRNA. This ensures that amino acids are added in the correct sequence to form a protein.
An enzyme called aminoacyl tRNA synthetase catalyzes the attachment of an amino acid to its respective tRNA, forming a charged aminoacyl-tRNA complex. This process is also known as tRNA charging and requires energy in the form of ATP. Once charged, the tRNA brings the amino acid to the ribosome where it is added to the growing polypeptide chain, ultimately resulting in the synthesis of a protein.