The Genetic Code and Transfer RNA and Charging

Unambigous

Each codon only specifies one amino acid

Degenerate

Each amino acid can have more than one codon

Comma-less/Comma-free

Adjacent codons do not overlap

Redundant

Amino acids are specified by more than one mRNA codon (because of Wobble effect)

Transfer RNA 5’end

Phosphate group

tRNA 3’ end

Hydroxyl

T arm

Responsible for attaching the tRNA to your ribosome

D arm

Allows amino acyl tRNA synthetase to recognize tRNA molecule (for recognition)

S-Adenosyl methionine

• Universal methyl donor w/ an essential role in yje survival of organisms

• Important because SAM enzyme catalyzes

• Essential in CHARGING OF tRNA

Amino-acyl tRNA synthetase (ARS)

• Primary function is to catalyze amino acetylation of tRNA

• Essential because tRNA needs to be charged to allow tRNA to connect to anticodons to your codon sequence

Charging

Amino acid and ATP bind to the active site of amino acyl AMP and other intermediates