Page 84 - The Miracle of Protein

82 THE MIRACLE OF PROTEIN

end, and its respective three-nucleotide sequence (anticodon)
at the other end. This part of the tRNA joins with the three-base
sequence on the mRNA known as the ‘codon’ and matches the
bases. Let’s say that mRNA’s codon is GGC. In this case, the

codon will be translated as glycine amino acid. And the tRNA
carrying the CCG anticodon on one end, and glycine on the
other end, will be carried to, and attach to, the codon with a hy-
drogen bond. In other words, if GGC codon comes up while the
mRNA molecule slides along the ribosome during the transla-
tion process, glycine will be added to the polypeptide chain. In

this way, the amino acids brought by the tRNAs in the specified
order will be added to the amino acid chain, translating the ge-
netic message into the language of the proteins.

The information required for the protein to be produced leaves the cell
nucleus as mRNA and arrives at the ribosome, where protein produc-
tion begins. At this point, the tRNAs begin bringing the necessary ma-
terials to the ribosome.