Glossary Term
Transfer RNA
PCR TermsEN
Definition
A class of short adaptor RNAs that transfers a specific amino acid to a growing polypeptide chain at the ribosomal site of protein synthesis during translation. Each transfer RNA comprises a three-nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the triplet nucleotide coding sequence of an mRNA, conferring specificity to the amino acid being incorporated into the assembling protein.
Extended Notes
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C816. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Also Known As
Transfer RNATriplet Codon-Amino Acid AdaptortRNA
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Transfer RNA (C816)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C816. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Transfer RNA-Derived Small RNA-5'tiRNAGln Drives HNRNPC Phase Separation to Promote Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by Regulating IGF1R. — Adv Sci (Weinh), 2026-09-29 (PMID 42811469; literature)