What is the role of tRNA during protein synthesis?

During protein synthesis, tRNA (transfer RNA) plays a critical role by carrying amino acids to the ribosome, where proteins are assembled. Each tRNA molecule has a specific anticodon that pairs with a corresponding codon on the mRNA strand. This ensures that the correct amino acid is added to the growing polypeptide chain in accordance with the genetic code.

The ribosome facilitates this process by bringing together the mRNA and the tRNAs that carry the appropriate amino acids. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, it reads the sequence of codons, and the tRNAs match their anticodons to these codons, thereby adding the correct amino acids in the proper sequence to form a functional protein.

This understanding highlights the importance of tRNA in the translation phase of protein synthesis, clearly distinguishing its function from other cellular components and processes, such as ribosome assembly or the synthesis of mRNA.