The spelling of the word "tRNAPhe" is unique and requires a little explanation. It stands for transfer RNA for phenylalanine, a molecule involved in protein synthesis. The "t" stands for transfer, and the "RNA" denotes ribonucleic acid. The "Phe" represents the amino acid phenylalanine, which the transfer RNA molecule transports to the growing polypeptide chain during translation. The pronunciation is /tiː ɑːr ɛn eɪ ˈfiː/. Understanding the spelling of technical terminology can aid in communication within the scientific community.
tRNAPhe is an abbreviation for transfer RNA Phenylalanine. It is a specific type of RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis. tRNAPhe is encoded by a gene and carries the amino acid phenylalanine to the ribosome during the translation process.
The primary function of tRNAPhe is to act as an adapter molecule that connects the codons on messenger RNA (mRNA) with the corresponding amino acids. This allows for the accurate translation of the genetic code into a specific sequence of amino acids, which ultimately determines the structure and function of proteins.
tRNAPhe is characterized by its unique structure. It consists of a single-stranded RNA chain that folds upon itself, forming a distinct cloverleaf shape. Various regions within the tRNA molecule bind to the corresponding regions of mRNA and interact with the enzyme aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, which covalently attaches phenylalanine to tRNAPhe.
During protein synthesis, tRNAPhe brings the phenylalanine amino acid to the ribosome, where it is added to the growing polypeptide chain. Once the phenylalanine is transferred, the tRNA molecule is released and can be used again in future rounds of translation.
Overall, tRNAPhe is an essential component of the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis. Its accurate and efficient functioning ensures the production of precisely sequenced polypeptide chains, contributing to the proper functioning of cells and organisms.
The word "tRNAPhe" is a combination of several abbreviations and acronyms in molecular biology.
The 't' in "tRNAPhe" stands for "transfer", indicating that it is a transfer RNA. Transfer RNA is a type of RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis by carrying specific amino acids to the ribosome.
The 'RNA' in "tRNAPhe" refers to ribonucleic acid, the biological molecule that is responsible for coding, decoding, and expressing genes. RNA is composed of nucleotide bases, including adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U).
Finally, 'Phe' is an abbreviation for phenylalanine, which is one of the 20 standard amino acids used by living organisms to build proteins.