Final answer:
The structure of tRNA includes a 2-dimensional cloverleaf pattern and a 3-dimensional L-shaped configuration, featuring an anticodon arm for binding mRNA codons and an acceptor stem where the amino acid is attached, enabling it to transfer specific amino acids during protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structure of tRNA (transfer RNA) is crucial for understanding its role in protein synthesis. A tRNA molecule is a single-stranded molecule exhibiting significant intracellular base pairing, resulting in a characteristic two-dimensional cloverleaf pattern and a 3-dimensional structure. The molecule consists of an anticodon arm, which contains an anticodon complementary to mRNA codons for amino acids, a D arm, a T arm, and the acceptor stem where the specific amino acid is attached.
The anticodon base pairs with the corresponding codon on mRNA during translation, ensuring the correct amino acid is incorporated into the growing polypeptide chain. The tRNA molecule folds intricately due to intramolecular hydrogen bonds, positioning the amino acid binding site at one end and the anticodon at the other, facilitating the translation process.
Each kind of tRNA is specific to one or more amino acids, and there are usually between 40 to 50 distinct tRNAs in most cells, capable of recognizing all the amino acid codons.