Cognate amino acid

Definition

A cognate amino acid is the specific amino acid that is attached to a tRNA molecule, allowing it to be incorporated into a growing polypeptide chain during translation. This precise pairing ensures that the genetic code is accurately translated into proteins.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The cognate amino acid is linked to its corresponding tRNA by an enzyme called aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.
2. Each tRNA molecule has an anticodon that matches the codon on the mRNA, ensuring proper placement of the cognate amino acid.
3. Incorrect pairing of a cognate amino acid to tRNA can lead to faulty or nonfunctional proteins.
4. The energy for attaching the cognate amino acid to tRNA comes from ATP hydrolysis.
5. There are at least 20 different types of tRNAs and corresponding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, one for each amino acid.

Review Questions

Related terms

tRNA:

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a type of RNA molecule that helps decode mRNA sequences into proteins.

anticodon:

An anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that pairs with a complementary codon in mRNA during translation.

aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase: This enzyme attaches the appropriate amino acid to its corresponding tRNA.