Now this is something I’ve been wanting for some time: my very own three-dimensional copy of a transfer RNA molecule. David Goodsell was so kind as to point me to the Center for BioMolecular Modeling at the Milwaukee School of Engineering as a place where I might be able to buy a made-to-order protein model. Sure enough, the friendly people at 3-D Molecular Designs quoted me a reasonable price for yeast initiator methionine tRNA (PDB entry 1yfg). I’m getting me some.
Why transfer RNA? Because there is nothing more central to the mystery of life and language than the point where the arbitrary code (like DNA) gets turned into active agents that move the world (like proteins), and transfer RNA is the hardware that makes it possible. Check out Goodsell’s images and explanation of transfer RNA and its good friend and partner aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. You know, at a certain level, the meaning of life is just messy, gluey arts-and-crafts project.
Rambles Blog at Star Chamber 