Question

Transfer RNA molecules are quite large, given that the anticodon consists of only three nucleotides. What is the purpose of the remainder of the tRNA molecule?

Answer 1

Transfer RNA or tRNA has a clover leaf like structure. It invcludes an acceptor arm, the anticodon stem and loop, the D stem and loop and the T-stem and loop. Out of these, the anticodon loop identifies the particular amino acid and that particular amino acid gets attached to the acceptor arm. The other regions of the structure are necessary in order to ensure that the anticodon loop and the acceptor arm are placed properly in relation to each other and in relation to the aminoacyl synthetase. The correct binding of the enzyme aminoacyl synthetase is essential for the attachment of the appropriate amino acid at the acceptor end.