Figure 2.

The tRNA journey. The secondary structure of tRNA with its constituent domains marked in different colors (top left): Acceptor Stem (green); Dihydrouridine Stem and Loop, DSL (black); Anticodon Stem and Loop, ASL (red); Variable Stem and Loop, VSL (yellow); Thymidine Stem and Loop, TSL (blue). tRNA transcripts are processed by sizing and modification, some are spliced, before functioning in translation. Modification of tRNAs, particularly the anticodon stem and loop (ASL) domain at positions 32, 34, 37, 38 and 39, is an important step toward achieving functional chemistry and architecture. The wobble nucleoside, first of the anticodon, is position 34. Red and black highlights of mature tRNA after modification indicate the locations in the ASL where it is heavily modified.