anticodon

(noun)

a sequence of three nucleotides in transfer RNA that binds to the complementary triplet (codon) in messenger RNA, specifying an amino acid during protein synthesis

Related Terms

Examples of anticodon in the following topics:

  • Processing of tRNAs and rRNAs

    • Mature tRNAs take on a three-dimensional structure through intramolecular basepairing to position the amino acid binding site at one end and the anticodon in an unbasepaired loop of nucleotides at the other end.
    • The anticodon is a three-nucleotide sequence, unique to each different tRNA, that interacts with a messenger RNA (mRNA) codon through complementary base pairing.
    • The cognate amino acid for a tRNA is the one specified by its anticodon.
    • The anticodon nucleotides are shown in a lighter shade of red.
    • The anticodon AAG binds the codon UUC on the mRNA.

  • The Protein Synthesis Machinery

    • This is called the tRNA's anticodon.
    • Each different tRNA has a different anticodon.
    • The tRNA with this anticodon would be linked to the amino acid leucine.
    • (the amino acid specified by its anticodon is a tRNA's cognate amino acid.)
    • The opposite end of the folded tRNA has the anticodon loop where the tRNA will basepair to the mRNA codon.

  • The Mechanism of Protein Synthesis

    • The aminoacyl-tRNA with an anticodon complementary to the A site codon lands in the A site.
    • In the E site, the uncharged tRNA detaches from its anticodon and is expelled .
    • A new aminoacyl-tRNA with an anticodon complementary to the new A-site codon enters the ribosome at the A site and the elongation process repeats itself.
    • There are no tRNAs with anticodons complementary to stop codons, so no tRNAs enter the A site.
    • During translation elongation, the incoming aminoacyl-tRNA enters the ribosome A site, where it binds if the tRNA anticodon is complementary to the A site mRNA codon.

  • The Initiation Complex and Translation Rate

    • The anticodon on the tRNAi then binds to the start codon via basepairing.
    • The anticodon on tRNAi-Met basepairs with the AUG codon.