What role does tRNA play in protein synthesis?

tRNA, or transfer RNA, plays a crucial role in protein synthesis by bringing amino acids to the ribosome, where proteins are assembled. Each tRNA molecule is specific to one amino acid and has an anticodon region that pairs with the corresponding codon on the mRNA strand being translated. This specific pairing ensures that the correct amino acids are added in the proper sequence, as dictated by the mRNA template. Through this process, tRNA facilitates the translation of genetic information into functional proteins, making it an essential component of the protein synthesis machinery within the cell.

In contrast to the other roles mentioned, tRNA does not encode genetic information (that function is performed by mRNA), synthesize mRNA (which is done by RNA polymerase during transcription), or remove introns from RNA (a function carried out by spliceosomes during RNA processing).