The Molecular Biology Notebook Online
F-Met tRNA
tRNA which recognises the codon AUG, and carries a Formyl derivative of methionine. In protein synthesis, the peptide chain always grows sequencially from the free terminal -NH2 group toward the -COOH end. The role of formyl methionine tRNA is to ensure that proteins are synthesised in this direction. In the fMet tRNA, the -NH2 group is blocked by the formyl group leaving the -COOH available to react with the -NH2 of the second amino acid. In this way, synthesis always proceeds in the right direction. The first amino acid is later separated from the protein by hydrolysis.
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