Amino acid activation
Amino Acid Activation
Amino acid activation (pronunciation: /ˈæmɪnoʊ ˈæsɪd ækˈteɪʃən/) is a crucial step in protein synthesis that involves the attachment of an amino acid to its corresponding transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule. This process is also known as tRNA charging or aminoacylation.
Etymology
The term "amino acid activation" is derived from the words "amino acid", which refers to the building blocks of proteins, and "activation", which in this context refers to the process of preparing the amino acid for incorporation into a protein chain.
Process
Amino acid activation is facilitated by a group of enzymes known as aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. These enzymes catalyze the attachment of an amino acid to its corresponding tRNA molecule, a process that involves two steps:
- The amino acid is first activated by reaction with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), forming an aminoacyl-adenylate intermediate and releasing inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi).
- The activated amino acid is then transferred to the tRNA, and the adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is released.
This process ensures that the correct amino acid is paired with its corresponding tRNA, a crucial step in ensuring the accuracy of protein synthesis.
Related Terms
- Protein synthesis: The process by which proteins are produced in cells.
- Transfer RNA (tRNA): A type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein.
- Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases: Enzymes that play a key role in protein synthesis by linking amino acids to their corresponding tRNA molecules.
- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP): A molecule that provides energy for many processes in living cells, including amino acid activation.
- Pyrophosphate (PPi): A by-product of the amino acid activation process.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Amino acid activation
- Wikipedia's article - Amino acid activation
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