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Glite Dictionary
tRNA

tRNA

6.8
A small molecule that carries the building blocks of proteins to the protein-making part of a cell
  • noun
  • /tiːˈɑːrˌɛnˈeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tRNA
  • During protein synthesis, tRNA carries specific amino acids to the ribosome.
  • transfer RNA

Examples

  • This suggestion was one of the first statements of the "adaptor hypothesis," the adaptors eventually being identified with transfer RNA (tRNA).

    Academic text (1996)

  • I felt all over the place, in bits: trna chile1 as we call it in Irish: not knowing how to be at once a competent adult educator in a university setting, course coordinator, research supervisor, and also a doer of a thesis, a supervisee, an adult learner in need of help.

    Academic text (2014)

  • So how are we going to get that dipeptidyl tRNA into the P site?

  • So the tRNA and ribosomal RNA genes, the translation machinery had to be retained in the mitochondria at least that much.

  • But there's amino acid tRNA synthetase and the tRNA for this alkyne.

  • The role of tRNA is crucial as it transports amino acids to the site of protein formation.

  • Each type of tRNA is designed to match a specific amino acid according to the mRNA sequence.

Synonyms

transfer RNA
vstRNA
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A small molecule in a cell that carries amino acids to ribosomes to make proteins

is the abbreviated technical form used instead of the full name
soluble RNA
vstRNA
  • Archaic
5.3

A small RNA that carries amino acids to where proteins are made

is the standard technical term while this is an alternative label
acceptor RNA
vstRNA
  • Specialized
6.5

A tRNA molecule that brings the correct amino acid to the cell's protein-making machine

focuses on transporting amino acids to the ribosome rather than attachment

Surface Forms

tRNA singular
tRNAs plural

Etymology

The word tRNA is short for transfer RNA, where transfer means 'to carry' and RNA is a molecule that helps make proteins. So tRNA is like a tiny delivery van that carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome during protein building, which explains its job of bringing the right building block when a protein is made.