2. Genetic code and ribosomes

Figure 12

Figure 12

2.2 tRNA (continued)

The 3’ end

At the 3’ end, the tRNA and the amino acid are linked by a covalent bond.

The anticodon

It allows pairing between tRNA and mRNA.

The anti-codon consists of 3 nucleotides located on the anticodon loop, highly accessible at one end of the tRNA.

These 3 nucleotides are paired with the 3 nucleotides of the codon on the mRNA, thus both nucleic acids (mRNA and tRNA) are positioned in an anti-parallel fashion, whereby facing bases are complementary and linked by hydrogen bonds.