3.8 - Transfer RNA Flashcards
1
Q
What shape does tRNA make?
A
a “t” or + shape
2
Q
Which end of tRNA carries the amino acid?
A
the 3’ end, at the top of the “t”
3
Q
What is at the bottom of tRNA?
A
An mRNA is attactched to the bottom of tRNA through a complentary codon
4
Q
How does tRNA know which amino acid to deliver?
A
- each tRNA has a unqiue anticodon at the bottom.
- Ex) if phe is the amino acid and it’s codon is UCU, the tRNA will have the anticodon AGA
5
Q
What does the third letter in the codon code for?
A
- The third letter in the codon doesn’t always matter. In most cases the first two letters code for a particular amino acid.
- The repitition in the genetic code means the code is degenerate.
- wobble theory
Trick question :)
6
Q
What is wobble theory? Who was it proposed by?
A
- it states that the 1st and 2 bases don’t change
- synonomus codons for given amino acids differs in the third base
- proposed by Crick (from watson and crick)
7
Q
What does charging and discharging tRNA mean?
A
- Charged: when an amino acid is attacted to a tRNA
- Discharged: when the tRNA delivers its amino acid
- tRNAcan be recycled as discharged ones can be recharged by reattaching the appropriate amino acid. (this REQUIRES ATP)
8
Q
What does minoacylation mean?
A
process of attatching an amino acid to the tRNA molecule