Lecture 14: RNA Structure and Properties Reading Assignment: Chapter 37, pgs. 402-411; Harper’s Biochemistry (25th edition). Objectives: To understand the structure and function of the three basic types of RNAs found in procaryotic and

eucarytoic cells and be able to use this information to identify a particular type of RNA and whether it originated from a bacterial or human cell.

  I. General Structure 

A. U for T substitution 

B. unusual bases  C. mostly single stranded 

D. importance of secondary structure  II. General Size and Description of Major RNA Types 

A. mRNA (procaryote vs eucaryotes) 

1. function 

2. heterogeneous size (300 to >10,000 bases long)

 3. cap

 4. ribosome binding

 5. protein synthesis start sites

 6. protein synthesis stop sites

 7. poly A tail

 

 

B. rRNA (procaryote vs eucaryotes)

 

1. function

 

2. specific size classes of rRNAs

 

3. proteins associated wit rRNAs

 

4. interaction of rRNAs to form a ribosome

C. tRNA

 

1. function

 

2. size

 

3. clover leaf structure

 

4. anticodon loop

 

5. acceptor stem