Anticodon
Definition
An anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule, complementary to a corresponding codon in messenger RNA (mRNA). It plays a crucial role in translating the mRNA's genetic message into proteins by aligning the correct amino acids during protein synthesis.
Analogy
Imagine the process of decoding an encrypted message where each set of 3-letter codes needs a matching key to reveal the original word. The anticodon acts like the key that perfectly matches and unlocks the meaning of each codon (3-letter code) on the mRNA, enabling the assembly line (ribosome) to add the correct building block (amino acid) to the growing protein chain.
Related terms
Codon: A sequence of three nucleotides on an mRNA molecule that corresponds to a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.
tRNA (Transfer RNA): The type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein through its anticodons and attached amino acids.
Ribosome: A molecular machine found within all living cells that serves as the site of biological protein synthesis, linking amino acids together in the order specified by mRNA
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