How does the tRNA know where to dock on the mRNA?

Question

thadyoung · Answer

You mean where does the tRNA know where to dock on the ribosome?

anonymous · Answer

It matches the letters together. 

There are two rules: 

A goes with U 
G goes with C 

So for example...

if the mRNA is (A G U).
then the tRNA that docks on it would be (U C A)

See, look here: 

mRNA -- A G U
tRNA   -- U C A 

You see how they both line up with each other? 

Since the first mRNA letter is A....
the first tRNA letter has to be U. 

Again, there are two rules: 

A goes with U
G goes with C

I've attached a picture to show you.

anonymous · Answer

Thanks :) it wasn't clearly answered in my book

anonymous · Answer

No problem. =)