Process of tRNA maturation by splicing intron from pre-tRNA

This scheme illustrates the process of tRNA maturation by the splicing of an intron from pre-tRNA (primary DNA transcript). The numbers in the second frame indicate the 4 subunits comprising the enzyme tRNA endonuclease. In the first and last frame, the position of the anticodon is indicated. The anticodon is a nucleotide triplet that specifies the amino acid that is added to the growing peptide chain. In the last frame, the anticodon is in the midst of the anticodon loop and prepared for its role in protein synthesis. (Contributed by Dr. Peter Barth.)