Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are a family of enzymes that play a pivotal role in protein synthesis. Each enzyme is specific to one of the twenty amino acids and its corresponding transfer RNA (tRNA), ensuring the correct matching of amino acids with their appropriate tRNA molecules—a process critical for the translation of genetic information into proteins. These enzymes first activate their respective amino acids by attaching them to ATP, forming an aminoacyl-AMP, and then transfer the activated amino acid to the tRNA, forming an aminoacyl-tRNA complex. This specificity and action are crucial for the fidelity of protein synthesis, making aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases essential for cellular function and viability across all life forms.