Final answer:
The 3-letter code for leucine is 'Leu', and its 1-letter abbreviation is 'L'. Codons are groups of three nitrogen bases that correspond to amino acids, and leucine is coded by multiple codons including UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG in RNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 3 letter code for the amino acid leucine is Leu.
In the context of genetic code and biochemistry, amino acids are represented with both three-letter and one-letter abbreviations to facilitate the listing of amino acid sequences in proteins, which can be very long. For leucine, the one-letter abbreviation is L.
Proteins are composed of amino acids arranged in a specific sequence, which is determined by nucleic acid sequences known as codons. A codon is a group of three nitrogen bases in nucleic acids that make up a single 'word' of the genetic code. Each codon corresponds to a unique amino acid. For example, the sequence UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG all code for leucine in RNA. Knowing these codons is essential for understanding how genetic information is translated into proteins.