Anticodon
Anticodon
Anticodon (pronounced: an-ti-co-don) is a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.
Etymology
The term "anticodon" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning "against" and "codon" meaning "code". It was first used in the 1960s to describe the three-nucleotide sequence in transfer RNA that is complementary to the three-nucleotide sequence in messenger RNA known as the codon.
Function
The primary function of the anticodon is to bind to the codon on the messenger RNA (mRNA) during protein synthesis. This binding ensures that the correct amino acid is added to the growing polypeptide chain. The anticodon is located on one end of the tRNA molecule, while the other end carries the specific amino acid corresponding to the anticodon.
Related Terms
- Codon: A sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule.
- tRNA: Transfer RNA, a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein.
- mRNA: Messenger RNA, a type of RNA molecule that conveys genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where they specify the amino acid sequence of the protein products of gene expression.
- Protein Synthesis: The process in which cells build proteins according to the genetic information carried by mRNA.
- Nucleotide: The basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. It consists of a base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine in DNA; adenine, guanine, cytosine, or uracil in RNA), a sugar, and a phosphate group.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anticodon
- Wikipedia's article - Anticodon
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