Final answer:
The hydrolysis of ATP is the key step that provides the energy for the charging of tRNA with an amino acid by the enzyme aminoacyl tRNA synthetase in the process of translation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hydrolysis of ATP drives the charging of tRNA with amino acid. This is a multi-step process involving an enzyme known as aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. Initially, an amino acid binds to the enzyme along with ATP. The ATP is then hydrolyzed, expelling a pyrophosphate (PPi) and forming an enzyme-AMP-amino acid complex.
The enzyme transfers the activated amino acid to the tRNA, effectively charging it, and subsequently, the AMP is released. The charged tRNA is now ready for use in the translation process of protein synthesis, where it plays a crucial role in decoding mRNA sequences into proteins.