Which type of RNA is responsible for linking mRNA to proteins?

The type of RNA responsible for linking mRNA to proteins is transfer RNA (tRNA). tRNA plays a critical role in the process of translation, whereby the genetic information carried by mRNA is translated into a corresponding amino acid sequence to form proteins. Each tRNA molecule is specific to a particular amino acid and has an anticodon that pairs with a codon on the mRNA strand. This pairing ensures that the correct amino acid is incorporated into the growing polypeptide chain during protein synthesis.

Translating the mRNA sequence into a protein involves tRNA recognizing the codons on the mRNA and delivering the appropriate amino acids. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, tRNA molecules sequentially bind and release amino acids, thus forming a polypeptide chain, which will eventually fold into a functional protein. This is a fundamental aspect of gene expression and cellular function, highlighting the crucial role of tRNA in the process.