Molecular visualization of tRNA

This web page uses the open-source Java Applet program Jmol, a proposed platform-independent replacement for Chime and Rasmol, neither of which is available in an OS X native version. You will need a relatively recent Java Virtual Machine to use it.

The buttons below are generally intended to be clicked in order.

This is tRNA-Phe, structure determined by S.-H. Kim, PDB ID 6TNA. This is the classic L shape characteristic of all tRNAs. Note the coaxial stacking of the acceptor stem and the TYC stem, and of the anticodon stem and the D stem. Tertiary structure is held together by non-Watson Crick base pairs and specifically bound Mg++ ions. The chain is colored in a gradient from 5' (blue) to 3' (red).

Big Jmol window.

Back to teaching resources.