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From Proteopedia
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tRNA fMet
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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 mRNA Interaction
The anticodon arm of the tRNA fmet attaches to the initiation codon on the mRNA which has already been bound to the small subunit of the ribosome. This binding to the initiation codon requires initiation factor 2 (IF-2) and forms a complex with GTP. This complex is collectively referred to as the 30S initiation complex. This complex is located within the cytoplasm of the cell
