Transfer RNA | Chemical Compound | Britannica

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External Websites
  • CiteSeerX - Evolution of a Transfer RNA Gene Through a Point Mutation in the Anticodon
  • Molecular Cell - Transfer RNA modifications and cellular thermotolerance
  • California Lutheran University - tRNA Structure
  • National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Origins and Early Evolution of the tRNA Molecule
  • Frontiers - Transfer RNA and human disease
Protein synthesis
Protein synthesis Ribosomes are key components of protein synthesis in cells. (more)
transfer RNA chemical compound Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: activator RNA, activator ribonucleic acid, adaptor ribonucleic acid, sRNA, soluble ribonucleic acid, tRNA, transfer ribonucleic acid(Show More) Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 24, 2026 •History Britannica AI Icon Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

transfer RNA (tRNA), small molecule in cells that carries amino acids to organelles called ribosomes, where they are linked into proteins. In addition to tRNA there are two other major types of RNA: messenger RNA (mRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). By 1960 the involvement of tRNAs in the assembly of proteins was demonstrated by several scientists, including American biochemist Robert William Holley, who also developed techniques to separate different transfer RNAs from cells and determined the composition of the tRNA that incorporates the amino acid alanine into protein molecules.

Ribosomal molecules of mRNA determine the order of tRNA molecules that are bound to nucleotide triplets (codons). The order of tRNA molecules ultimately determines the amino acid sequence of a protein because molecules of tRNA catalyze the formation of peptide bonds between the amino acids, linking them together to form proteins. The newly formed proteins detach themselves from the ribosome site and migrate to other parts of the cell for use.

Key People: Robert William Holley (Show more) Related Topics: RNA translation aminoacyl-transfer RNA (Show more) See all related content

Molecules of tRNA typically contain fewer than 100 nucleotide units and fold into a characteristic cloverleaf structure. Specialized tRNAs exist for each of the 20 amino acids needed for protein synthesis, and in many cases more than one tRNA for each amino acid is present. The 61 codons used to code amino acids can be read by many fewer than 61 distinct tRNAs. In the bacterium Escherichia coli a total of 40 different tRNAs are used to translate the 61 codons. The amino acids are loaded onto the tRNAs by specialized enzymes called aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, usually with one synthetase for each amino acid. However, in some organisms, less than the full complement of 20 synthetases are required because some amino acids, such as glutamine and asparagine, can be synthesized on their respective tRNAs. All tRNAs adopt similar structures because they all have to interact with the same sites on the ribosome.

polynucleotide chain of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) More From Britannica nucleic acid: Transfer RNA (tRNA) This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.

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