key term - Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Definition

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein during the process of translation in the cell's cytoplasm. It carries specific amino acids to the ribosome, where they are added to the growing polypeptide chain according to the sequence specified by mRNA.

Related terms

Messenger RNA (mRNA): The molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, serving as a template for protein synthesis.

Ribosome:

A molecular machine found within cells that serves as the site of protein synthesis, reading mRNA sequences and assembling proteins according to their encoded instructions.

Amino Acid: The building block of proteins; each tRNA molecule is responsible for bringing a specific amino acid to the ribosome during protein synthesis