Amino Acids and tRNA Function in Protein Synthesis

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to amino acids, tRNA, and the process of protein synthesis.

tRNA

Transfer RNA, a molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein by bringing the appropriate amino acid.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a specific codon in mRNA.

Peptide bond

A chemical bond formed between two amino acids during protein synthesis.

C terminus

The end of a protein or polypeptide chain that has a free carboxyl group (-COOH).

N terminus

The end of a protein or polypeptide chain that has a free amino group (-NH2).

Dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction that involves the loss of a water molecule to form a bond between two molecules, such as during the formation of peptide bonds.

Phenylalanine

An amino acid that is coded for by the codon UUU.

Glycine

The simplest amino acid, which is often involved in the formation of proteins.

Hydrogen bond

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton and an electronegative atom.