Transfer RNA - Structure

Structure

The structure of tRNA can be decomposed into its primary structure, its secondary structure (usually visualized as the cloverleaf structure), and its tertiary structure (all tRNAs have a similar L-shaped 3D structure that allows them to fit into the P and A sites of the ribosome). The cloverleaf structure becomes the 3D L-shaped structure through coaxial stacking of the helices, which is a common RNA Tertiary Structure motif.

  1. The 5'-terminal phosphate group.
  2. The acceptor stem is a 7-base pair (bp) stem made by the base pairing of the 5'-terminal nucleotide with the 3'-terminal nucleotide (which contains the CCA 3'-terminal group used to attach the amino acid). The acceptor stem may contain non-Watson-Crick base pairs.
  3. The CCA tail is a cytosine-cytosine-adenine sequence at the 3' end of the tRNA molecule. This sequence is important for the recognition of tRNA by enzymes and critical in translation. In prokaryotes, the CCA sequence is transcribed in some tRNA sequences. In most prokaryotic tRNAs and eukaryotic tRNAs, the CCA sequence is added during processing and therefore does not appear in the tRNA gene.
  4. The D arm is a 4 bp stem ending in a loop that often contains dihydrouridine.
  5. The anticodon arm is a 5-bp stem whose loop contains the anticodon.
  6. The T arm is a 5 bp stem containing the sequence TΨC where Ψ is a pseudouridine.
  7. Bases that have been modified, especially by methylation, occur in several positions throughout the tRNA. The first anticodon base, or wobble-position, is sometimes modified to inosine (derived from adenine), pseudouridine (derived from uracil) or lysidine (derived from cytosine).

Read more about this topic:  Transfer RNA

Famous quotes containing the word structure:

    “Science is intimately integrated with the whole social structure and cultural tradition. They mutually support one other—only in certain types of society can science flourish, and conversely without a continuous and healthy development and application of science such a society cannot function properly.”
    —Talcott Parsons (1902–1979)

    “A structure becomes architectural, and not sculptural, when its elements no longer have their justification in nature.”
    —Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918)

    “It is difficult even to choose the adjective
    For this blank cold, this sadness without cause.
    The great structure has become a minor house.
    No turban walks across the lessened floors.
    The greenhouse never so badly needed paint.”
    —Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)