tRNA-ALA is a mitochondrial noncoding gene that produces the nucleic acid adaptor molecule transfer RNA (tRNA). tRNAs bind relevant amino acids and function during protein formation by providing the ribosome with the correct peptide sequence. tRNA-ALA specifically adds alanine during translation.
Disorders associated with tRNA-ALA deficiency include myopathy, myotonic dystrophy-like disorders, and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia.