Principles of Biochemistry

7.5.1.2 Activation of tRNA

There are two steps involved in tRNA activation.

Step I: An amino acid interacts with an activator molecule(ATP) to form a highly energetic complex.

Step II: This complex then reacts with the appropriate tRNA molecule to produce an activated tRNA molecule, a tRNA molecule that has an amino acid covalently bonded to it at its 3’ end through an ester linkage.