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Composition of RNA
RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is crucial for the synthesis of cellular protein needed to produce new cells in living beings. In some viruses, RNA replaces DNA as the genetic code carrier.
RNA is a complex compound with high molecular weight. RNA and DNA resemble each other in many ways, except that RNA has a single strand whereas DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) has two strands with deoxyribose in its backbone.
In RNA, ribose nucleotides attached with phosphodiester bonds help form strands of different lengths. The bases of nitrogen in RNA are guanine, adenine, uracil, and cytosine, and all replace thymine in DNA.
RNA’s ribose sugar has a cyclical structure with one oxygen and five carbons. RNA is prone to hydrolysis in the presence of a chemically reactive hydroxyl group associated with the second carbon group in the ribose sugar molecule. The DNA of a cell and its ribosomes of the protein blueprint are carried by messenger RNA.
Definition of RNA
RNA is made of ribonucleic acid and is usually single-stranded. The ribonucleic chain of RNA has ribose (the pentose sugar), a phosphate group, and four nitrogenous bases (A, U, G, and C).
RNA is a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Types of RNA include ribosomal RNA (rRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and small nucleolar RNAs. Some RNAs are involved in the regulation of gene expression.
Structure of RNA
RNA is a single-stranded biopolymer. The structure of RNA is three-dimensional which is critical to its function and stability. The structure allows the nitrogen bases and the ribose sugar to be modified in various ways in association with cellular enzymes that consist of the chemical group to the chain, for example, a methyl group.
The chemical bond formation is possible because such modifications were in the distant regions in the RNA strand that lead to complex contortions in RNA structure. These structural changes stabilise the RNA molecule. Molecules can be readily destroyed with weak stabilisation and modification.
Types of RNA
There are many types of RNA. The three most common types are, transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
These three types are present in all organisms. They participate in biochemical reactions in the cells. However, some RNA also have complex regulatory functions. RNAs play an important role in the maintenance and breakdown of cellular processes, depending on their involvement in various regulatory processes, their diverse functions and their abundance.
During protein synthesis, mRNA transfers the genetic codes from the nucleus to the ribosomes for protein translation. Ribosomal RNA encoded ribosome protein subunits are synthesised in the nucleolus. The transfer RNA (tRNA) has less than 100 nucleotides that transfer a particular amino acid to the ribosomes, where they can form proteins.
Functions of RNA
Depending on the translation process, cells can access information stored in DNA by creating RNA that participates in protein synthesis. Proteins have many functions, including serving as enzyme catalysts that build and maintain the structure and various processes in the cell.
The messenger RNA (mRNA) transfers code from the DNA. When the cell needs a certain type of protein for synthesis, the product gene is ‘turned on’, and its mRNA is synthesised through transcription. After that, the mRNA interacts with ribosomes and other cellular components to synthesise the protein encoded during translation. The messenger RNA (mRNA) is comparatively unstable and short-lived, especially in the prokaryotic cells, to ensure proteins are made only when needed.
tRNA and rRNA are more stable and are encoded in the DNA of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. They are copied into long RNA molecules that release smaller fragments that contain the RNA code.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned about the definition of RNA, its types, structure, and functions. RNA means ribonucleic acid. It is usually single-stranded and connected with phosphodiester bonds. The three most commonly known types of RNA are, transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These types of RNAs are present in all organisms and perform different functions. The mRNA is unstable and short-lived, while tRNA and rRNA are stable.
