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tRNA has a central role in biology as the adaptor between mRNA and protein, in which anticodon interactions with the mRNA codon at one end of the L-shaped tRNA allow an attached amino acid at the other end of the tRNA to condense with the peptide chain on a second tRNA through the action of the ribosome. This familiar role of tRNA requires mature tRNAs to be recognized by the aminoacyl tRNA synthetase to add the amino acid to its 3 end, by EF1 to form a ternary complex with the aminoacylated tRNA and GTP, and by elements of the ribosome and associated components to allow binding, peptide synthesis, and translocation. Before fulfilling this role, all tRNA transcripts have to be extensively processed. Maturation of tRNAs requires five major steps: (1) removal of the 5 leader by RNase P,
Hopper et al. (Wed,) studied this question.