Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is responsible for "charging" tRNA with amino acids. During translation, tRNA molecules that are bound to specific amino acids are fed into the ribosome in a specific order that is complementary to the mRNA strand. Once a tRNA is used up, it loses its amino acid. As a result, it must interact with aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase before it can be used again in translation.

A malfunction in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase would result in a shortage of charged tRNA molecules and a decrease in translation processing.

The three types of RNA discussed are messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). mRNA forms during transcription when RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from the DNA template. Post-transcriptional modification is required for the mRNA to mature and exit the nucleus. Once in the cytoplasm, the mRNA will bind to a ribosome composed of rRNA and proteins. The ribosome will then recruit tRNA molecules to the complex in order to synthesize the protein product. Each amino acid binds to a specific kind of tRNA. tRNA brings the amino acids to the growing end of the newly forming polypeptide at the ribosome by binding to the codon of the mRNA.

The enzyme aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase joins tRNA molecules with a corresponding amino acid. First, an amino acid is bound to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase using ATP. Then, the tRNA molecule containing the corresponding anticodon binds to the enzyme. The correct tRNA molecule is identified by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase by its anticodon sequence and other areas of its structure. Last, the tRNA molecule covalently bonds to the amino acid and is released from aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

Ribosomes are non-membranous organelles that direct protein synthesis by reading mRNA and joining amino acids into strands of polypeptides. Ribosomes exist in both free and membrane-bound states. They are synthesized in both the nucleolus and cytoplasm. The components that make up these non-membranous organelles are rRNA molecules and a variety of proteins. Ribosomes have a large and a small subunit, together called the translational apparatus. The small ribosomal subunit reads the mRNA strand and the large ribosomal subunit joins amino acids into polypeptides. 

The large ribosomal subunit has three sites that interact with tRNA molecules—the peptidyl “P” site, the aminoacyl “A” site, and the exit “E” site. The P-site holds the tRNA corresponding to the most recently added amino acid, which is attached to the growing polypeptide chain by a peptide bond. The A-site holds the tRNA with the next amino acid to be added to the chain. Finally, the E-site holds the free tRNA without an amino acid that was previously in the P-site.

The mRNA strand is synthesized 5' to 3' and contains the codons. tRNA contains the anticodons needed for the corresponding amino acid, and is paired to the codon 3' to 5'.

The anticodon of any codon will be the RNA nucleotides that complement the codon sequence. In RNA, adenine (A) complements uracil (U) while cytosine (C) complements guanine (G). Hence, for the codon 5' AUG 3', the complements will be 3' UAC 5'. Note that many of the incorrect answers contain thymine (T), a nucleotide not found in RNA.

The start codon for any strand of RNA begins with the codon that codes for the amino acid methionine. This is the first amino acid in a polypeptide chain. The abbreviation for methionine is: Met.

When translated from a ribosome on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), the protein is moved through the RER until it is released in a lipid vesicle that can transport the protein to the plasma membrane, where the lipid vesicle fuses with the lipid membrane and the protein is secreted outside the cell. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum does not have ribosomes on it and is used for the production and transport of lipids and in detoxification. No ribosomes are found in the nucleus or directly on the plasma membrane. Ribosomes in the cytosol translate proteins that stay inside the cell.

In messenger RNA, each codon is three nucleotides that codes for a particular amino acid during translation. Purines and pyrimidines are types of nucleotides on DNA and RNA. The genetic code is redundant, but each codon only codes for one amino acid.