The catalytic function of tRNA in protein synthesis can be broken down into several steps:
Aminoacylation: Each tRNA molecule is attached to its corresponding amino acid by an enzyme known as aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. This process is crucial for the tRNA to be "charged" and ready for participation in protein synthesis. Initiation: The charged tRNA, along with various initiation factors, forms a complex with the ribosome and the mRNA. Elongation: The ribosome facilitates the binding of the charged tRNA to the mRNA, allowing the amino acid to be added to the growing polypeptide chain. This involves the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome, which forms peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids. Termination: The process continues until a stop codon is reached, at which point the newly synthesized protein is released.
