Aminoacylation
The process by which an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase attaches an amino acid to a tRNA. A suppressor tRNA must preserve the identity features needed for the intended charging reaction.
Glossary
Hard science,
defined precisely.
Plain-language definitions for terms used across the KritRNA website. These explanations are educational and are not medical advice.
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS)
An enzyme that matches a tRNA with an amino acid. Incorrect recognition can change which amino acid is inserted during readthrough.
Anticodon
A three-nucleotide sequence in a tRNA that pairs with a codon on mRNA. Changing the anticodon alone does not guarantee that a suppressor tRNA will fold, charge or function safely.
Codon
A group of three RNA letters read by the ribosome. Most codons specify amino acids; UAA, UAG and UGA normally signal termination.
Integrated stress response (ISR)
A cellular signalling programme that changes protein synthesis during stress. Translation perturbations and ribosome problems can influence ISR pathways.
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD)
A surveillance pathway that can reduce an mRNA containing a premature stop codon, leaving less message available for protein production.
Nonsense mutation
A DNA change that creates a stop codon inside a protein-coding sequence before the intended end.
Premature termination codon (PTC)
An early UAA, UAG or UGA stop signal created within a coding region. It can interrupt translation and may also trigger NMD.
Readthrough
Continuation of translation past a stop codon. In suppressor-tRNA research, the goal is selected readthrough at a disease-causing premature stop while controlling effects at normal stops.
Release factors
Proteins including eRF1 and eRF3 that recognise stop codons and terminate translation. A suppressor tRNA must compete with them at a premature stop.
Ribosome
The molecular machine that reads mRNA and assembles a protein from amino acids.
Suppressor tRNA
An engineered or naturally occurring tRNA capable of decoding a stop codon and delivering an amino acid so translation may continue.
Translation
The process by which the ribosome reads mRNA and builds a protein.