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RNA Structure

01RNA Structure

RNA molecules

This section covers the structure of RNA polynucleotides and their role in transferring genetic information.

Structure of RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid made from a chain of RNA nucleotides. RNA molecules are generally relatively short polynucleotide chains and consist of a single strand.

Along an RNA strand, ribose sugars and phosphate groups alternate to form a sugar-phosphate backbone. Adjacent nucleotides are connected by phosphodiester bonds, while their nitrogen-containing bases project from the backbone.

PribosePribosePribosebasebasebasesingle polynucleotide strand

RNA nucleotides contain the pentose sugar ribose and one of four bases:

  • adenine (A)
  • cytosine (C)
  • guanine (G)
  • uracil (U)

Examples of RNA include messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

RNA has an information-carrying role. Genetic information can be transferred from DNA to ribosomes, where it is used during the production of polypeptides.

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