Which RNA type functions as an adaptor to deliver specific amino acids during translation?

Which RNA type functions as an adaptor to deliver specific amino acids during translation?

• A. mRNA
• B. rRNA
• C. miRNA
• D. tRNA

Answer: (D)

During translation, the genetic code carried by mRNA is read codon by codon, and each codon specifies a particular amino acid. The adaptor molecule that delivers that amino acid is transfer RNA, which carries a specific amino acid at its 3' end and contains an anticodon that base-pairs with the corresponding codon on the mRNA. This pairing provides the correct amino acid for each codon, guiding its incorporation into the growing polypeptide chain. The charging of tRNA with the right amino acid is done by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ensuring accuracy before the ribosome catalyzes peptide bond formation between adjacent amino acids. The tRNA’s structure—the anticodon loop for codon recognition and the attachment site for the amino acid—enables it to serve as the physical bridge between the nucleotide sequence and the protein sequence. Other RNA types have different roles: mRNA is the template, rRNA forms part of the ribosome, and miRNA regulates gene expression rather than delivering amino acids.

During translation, the genetic code carried by mRNA is read codon by codon, and each codon specifies a particular amino acid. The adaptor molecule that delivers that amino acid is transfer RNA, which carries a specific amino acid at its 3' end and contains an anticodon that base-pairs with the corresponding codon on the mRNA. This pairing provides the correct amino acid for each codon, guiding its incorporation into the growing polypeptide chain. The charging of tRNA with the right amino acid is done by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ensuring accuracy before the ribosome catalyzes peptide bond formation between adjacent amino acids. The tRNA’s structure—the anticodon loop for codon recognition and the attachment site for the amino acid—enables it to serve as the physical bridge between the nucleotide sequence and the protein sequence. Other RNA types have different roles: mRNA is the template, rRNA forms part of the ribosome, and miRNA regulates gene expression rather than delivering amino acids.