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tRNA fMet

spinqualitylabelsall models This is the three-dimensional structure of the tRNA fMet molecule Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image

Function

tRNA fMet is the tRNA used for the initiation of protein synthesis. It is the fist tRNA molecule that enters the ribosome, specifically at the P site, as opposed to all other tRNAs which enter the A site. The amino acid attached to tRNA fMet is N-formylmethionine, which is the first amino acid assembled into the polypeptide chain during bacterial translation. It corresponds to the start codon, "AUG." Additional amino acids then bond with the N-formylmethionine attached to tRNA fMet, in order to assemble a protein. In this way, tRNA fMet is one of the molecules that begins the process of converting genetic code to protein.

tRNA-fmet and Ribosome Interaction

tRNA fmet attaches to the initiation codon which requires initiation factor 2 (IF-2) and forms a complex with GTP. This complex is collectively referred to as the 30S initiation complex.