Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is one of the two main nucleic acids in cells, alongside DNA. While DNA stores genetic information, RNA plays a vital role in using that information to produce proteins, which are crucial for cell function and development.

RNA is composed of three key components:

1. Ribose Sugar: This is a type of sugar that forms the backbone of the RNA molecule.
2. Phosphate Group: This connects the ribose sugars in the RNA chain, forming the structural framework.
3. Nitrogenous Bases: These bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U). Unlike DNA, RNA contains uracil instead of thymine.

The smallest unit of RNA is called a nucleotide, which consists of one ribose sugar, one phosphate group, and one nitrogenous base. Multiple nucleotides bond together to form the RNA molecule, a single-stranded macromolecule.

1. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

• Ribosomal RNA is a major structural and functional component of ribosomes, the cell's protein-building machinery.
• Ribosomes are made up of rRNA and proteins. The rRNA helps align messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) during protein synthesis and also catalyses the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids.
• rRNA is crucial for the assembly and function of ribosomes in protein synthesis.

2. Messenger RNA (mRNA)

• Messenger RNA serves as the blueprint for protein synthesis. It is transcribed from DNA in the cell nucleus and carries the genetic instructions to ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
• The sequence of bases in mRNA determines the order of amino acids in the resulting protein, ensuring that the correct protein is produced.
• mRNA acts like a courier, delivering the "recipe" for proteins from DNA to the ribosome.

3. Transfer RNA (tRNA)

• Transfer RNA acts as the transporter in the process of protein synthesis. It reads the genetic code on the mRNA and brings the corresponding amino acid to the ribosome.
• Each tRNA molecule has an anticodon, a sequence of three bases that is complementary to a codon (a triplet of bases) on the mRNA. This ensures that the correct amino acid is added to the growing protein chain.
• tRNA essentially "translates" the genetic code into a sequence of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.

Types of RNA