Following the nucleotide
numbering, tape the pieces into
a long strip. The blank grey tabs
should be hidden.
Make slits in-between each
double line (16 total).
Be careful not to cut through
the entire strip.
Fold back ("mountain fold")
on the horizontal dashed lines
Fold in ("valley fold") on the
small vertical dotted lines.
Bring together bases G19 and
C56 (colored yellow) to form a
base pair – hide the grey tab by
taping it under. This forms the
beginnings of the tRNA tertiary
structure– the inverted L-shape.
To further explore details of
tertiary structure see the atomic
model of tRNA at bit.ly/HVzIoH
Molecular Models:
Exploring the Structure of tRNA
www.rcsb.org • info@rcsb.org
I. The primary structure
II. The secondary structure
III. The tertiary structure
1. 10-13 with 25-22
2. 27-31 with 43-39
3. 49-53 with 65-61
4. 1-7 with 72-66
Bring colored/patterned sections
together, and tape so the grey
tab is hidden. It is important
that you match the bases in the
following order:
Notice the almost-perfect base pairing
(G:C and A:U bases pair up). At this
point the model is a cloverleaf shape–
the secondary structure of tRNA. Each
colored region represents the double
helical regions of the structure.
1 2 3 4
5 6
7
or
or
or
or
What is tRNA?
Transfer RNA (tRNA)1 "translates" the genetic code
into the language of proteins. Each tRNA molecule
binds to a specific amino acid on the acceptor arm,
recognizes its corresponding code on the mRNA
through the anticodon loop region and delivers
the amino acid to a growing peptide chain in the
ribosome2 for protein synthesis.
1. See the Molecule of the Month feature at doi:
10.2210/rcsb_pdb/mom_2001_3
2. See the Molecule of the Month feature at doi: 10.2210/rcsb_pdb/mom_2010_1
Cut out each
piece, leaving
the grey tabs
intact.
bases
phosphodiester
backbone
sugars
phosphates
nucleotide
numbering
Acceptor
arm
D-arm
TΨC arm
Anticodon
arm
Anticodon
Anticodon
Acceptor
Instructions for Building the Paper Model of tRNA
Acceptor Arm
Anticodon Loop
Additional information about this activity can be found at: bit.ly/HVzIoH
Molecular Models:
Exploring the Structure of tRNA
www.rcsb.org • info@rcsb.orgAdditional information about this activity can be found at: bit.ly/HVzIoH
tRNA Model Template for Reproduction in Black
Molecular Models:
Exploring the Structure of tRNA
www.rcsb.org • info@rcsb.orgAdditional information about this activity can be found at: bit.ly/HVzIoH
tRNA Model Template for Reproduction in Color