Nucleic Acids RNA ribonucleic acids By Tessa B

Nucleic Acids: RNA (ribonucleic acids) By Tessa B. , Emma M. , and Abby R.

Major Components of a Nucleotide -Sugar -Phosphate Group -Nitrogenous Bases -Purines -Adenine -Guanine -Pyrimidines -Uracil (only RNA) -Cytosine -Thymine (only DNA)

RNA: Structure ● RNA has � -form helix geometry (compared to DNA � -form) ● Single-stranded, shorter chain of nucleotides (after transcription and splicing, only exons remain) ● The ribose-sugar backbone in RNA contains a hydroxyl group, this is absent in DNA ● The single-strand nature of RNA allows for the molecule to fold itself into many 3 D structures, e. g. “hairpin formation” ● In the folding process the RNA bases attach together (G&C, A&U)

RNA: Function ● ● m. RNA - RNA functions as a copy of DNA ○ Carries the genetic material to the ribosomes ○ Involved in the transcription and protein synthesis processes t. RNA - RNA functions as a connection between protein building blocks and genetic codes ○ Located at the end points of each amino acid ○ Links m. RNA and the amino acid ○ Brings amino acids to the ribosome during translation ● r. RNA - RNA functions as a building block of the structures of ribosomes ● RNA can act as an enzyme (ribozyme) to help speed up chemical reactions; can catalyze its own synthesis

Evolution ● “Archaea were discovered to be a separate domain of life by analyzing small subunit ribosomal RNAs (SSU r. RNA) (Woese and Fox, 1977)” ● Protein domains- the basic elements of protein structure ○ Each has its own unique 3 D structure, or fold ● Different proteins sharing common domains most likely means common ancestry ● Emergence of a new fold could mark an important evolutionary event ● New domains can evolve by means of random mutation ○ Can be used to study evolution ● (March 2015) nucleotides including uracil, cytosine and thymines were formed in the lab under outer space conditions

References “RNA - Structure of RNA | Types of RNA | Functions of RNA | Byju's. ” Biology, Byjus Classes, 12 Sept. 2017, byjus. com/biology/structure-of-rna/. Structural Bioinformatics, Second Edition Edited by Jenny Gu and Philip E. Bourne Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc (n. d. ). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from http: //exploringorigins. org/rna. html Structural Biochemistry/Nucleic Acid/Difference between DNA and RNA. (n. d. ). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https: //en. wikibooks. org/wiki/Structural_Biochemistry/Nucleic_Acid/Difference_between_DNA_and_RNA Structural Biochemistry/Nucleic Acid/RNA/Transfer RNA (t. RNA). (n. d. ). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https: //en. wikibooks. org/wiki/Structural_Biochemistry/Nucleic_Acid/RNA/Transfer_RNA_(t. RNA) Transfer RNA. (2017, September 17). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Transfer_RNA