RNA Structure and Types

Structure of RNA

• Single-stranded molecule
• Composed of nucleotides (A, C, G, and U)
• Sugar molecule: ribose
• Phosphate group: RNA has a hydroxyl (-OH) group on the 2' carbon of the ribose sugar

Types of RNA

• mRNA (Messenger RNA): carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis
• tRNA (Transfer RNA): brings amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis
• rRNA (Ribosomal RNA): makes up a large part of the ribosome, which translates mRNA into protein
• miRNA (MicroRNA): regulates gene expression by binding to mRNA
• siRNA (Small Interfering RNA): also regulates gene expression by degrading mRNA
• snRNA (Small Nuclear RNA): involved in various aspects of RNA processing
• snoRNA (Small Nucleolar RNA): guides chemical modifications of rRNA

Functions of RNA

• Protein synthesis: mRNA provides the template for protein synthesis
• Gene regulation: miRNA and siRNA regulate gene expression
• RNA processing: snRNA and snoRNA are involved in splicing, capping, and polyadenylation of RNA
• Catalysis: some RNA molecules (ribozymes) can catalyze chemical reactions

RNA Synthesis

• Transcription: the process of creating RNA from DNA
• Initiation: RNA polymerase binds to the DNA template
• Elongation: RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing RNA chain
• Termination: RNA polymerase releases the RNA transcript

Structure of RNA

• RNA is a single-stranded molecule composed of nucleotides (A, C, G, and U)
• The sugar molecule in RNA is ribose, which has a hydroxyl (-OH) group on the 2' carbon

Types of RNA

• mRNA carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis
• tRNA brings amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis
• rRNA makes up a large part of the ribosome, which translates mRNA into protein
• miRNA regulates gene expression by binding to mRNA
• siRNA regulates gene expression by degrading mRNA
• snRNA is involved in various aspects of RNA processing, such as splicing, capping, and polyadenylation
• snoRNA guides chemical modifications of rRNA

Functions of RNA

• mRNA provides the template for protein synthesis
• miRNA and siRNA regulate gene expression by binding to and degrading mRNA, respectively
• RNA processing involves the splicing, capping, and polyadenylation of RNA, facilitated by snRNA and snoRNA
• Some RNA molecules, known as ribozymes, can catalyze chemical reactions

RNA Synthesis

• Transcription is the process of creating RNA from DNA
• RNA polymerase initiates transcription by binding to the DNA template
• During elongation, RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the growing RNA chain
• Transcription terminates when RNA polymerase releases the RNA transcript