Where is the anticodon located?

The anticodon is found on tRNA (transfer RNA). Each tRNA molecule has a specific three-nucleotide sequence known as the anticodon, which is complementary to a codon on mRNA (messenger RNA). This complementary pairing is crucial during the process of translation, where the amino acids are assembled into proteins according to the sequence of codons on the mRNA.

tRNA serves as the adaptor molecule that recognizes specific codons on the mRNA and carries the corresponding amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain. The precise match between the codon and the anticodon ensures that the correct amino acid is added to the protein being synthesized, maintaining the accuracy of the genetic code during protein synthesis.

While mRNA contains codons, ribosomes facilitate the translation process, and the nucleus is the site of transcription where mRNA is synthesized, none of these locations harbor the anticodon itself. Thus, the understanding of the role of tRNA in translation highlights the importance of the anticodon in decoding the mRNA message accurately.