Types of RNAs

mRNA, rRNA, tRNA and snRNA

Applications of Forms of DNA
• The B helix is the biologically relevant structure for DNA.
• The A form might logically be adopted at the stage of transient
DNA–RNA duplexes during transcription, but elsewhere the B form
holds sway.
• Nucleosomal DNA clearly retains the B conformation.
• The closest that one comes to biological A-DNA is local deformations
upon binding of B-DNA to a few proteins that have been described as
`A-like distortions'.
• On the other hand, the A helix has been found repeatedly in RNA
duplexes, including tRNA and ribozymes.
• The situation is even more restrictive with the Z helix.
• Although its alternating purine/pyrimidine sequence makes it
unusable for genetic coding, the suggestion has been made on many
occasions that Z-DNA might be an important element in
genetic control by being involved in negative supercoiling
• left-handed DNA conformation can be induced by negative
superhelical stress
• Z helix seen in crystal structures of small oligomers
RNA
• Structurally speaking, ribonucleic acid (RNA), is quite similar to DNA.
However, whereas DNA molecules are typically long and double
stranded, RNA molecules are much shorter and are typically single
stranded. RNA molecules perform a variety of roles in the cell but are
mainly involved in the process of protein synthesis (translation) and
its regulation.
RNA Structure
RNA is typically single stranded and is made of ribonucleotides that are linked by phosphodiester bonds
. A ribonucleotide in the RNA chain contains ribose (the pentose sugar),
one of the four nitrogenous bases (A, U, G, and C), and a phosphate group.
The subtle structural difference between the sugars gives
DNA added stability, making DNA more suitable for storage of genetic information,
whereas the relative instability of RNA makes it more suitable for its more short-term functions.
• The RNA-specific pyrimidine uracil forms a complementary base pair
with adenine and is used instead of the thymine used in DNA.
• Even though RNA is single stranded, most types of RNA molecules
show extensive intramolecular base pairing between complementary
sequences within the RNA strand, creating a predictable
three-dimensional structure essential for their function
• Functions of RNA in Protein Synthesis
• Cells access the information stored in DNA by creating RNA to direct
the synthesis of proteins through the process of translation. Proteins
within a cell have many functions, including building cellular
structures and serving as enzyme catalysts for cellular chemical
reactions that give cells their specific characteristics. The three main
types of RNA directly involved in protein synthesis are messenger RNA
(mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and transfer RNA (tRNA).
• In 1961, French scientists François Jacob and Jacques Monod
hypothesized the existence of an intermediary between DNA and its
protein products, which they called messenger RNA.1 Evidence
supporting their hypothesis was gathered soon afterwards showing
that information from DNA is transmitted to the ribosome for protein
synthesis using mRNA. If DNA serves as the complete library of
cellular information, mRNA serves as a photocopy of specific
information needed at a particular point in time that serves as the
instructions to make a protein.
• The mRNA carries the message from the DNA, which controls all of
the cellular activities in a cell. If a cell requires a certain protein to be
synthesized, the gene for this product is “turned on” and the mRNA is
synthesized through the process of transcription (see RNA
Transcription). The mRNA then interacts with ribosomes and other
cellular machinery (Figure 10.3.3
• ) to direct the synthesis of the protein it encodes during the process
of translation (see Protein Synthesis). mRNA is relatively unstable and
short-lived in the cell, especially in prokaryotic cells, ensuring that
proteins are only made when needed.
• rRNA and tRNA are stable types of RNA.
• In prokaryotes and eukaryotes, tRNA and rRNA are encoded in the
DNA, then copied into long RNA molecules that are cut to release
smaller fragments containing the individual mature RNA species.
• In eukaryotes, synthesis, cutting, and assembly of rRNA into
ribosomes takes place in the nucleolus region of the nucleus, but
these activities occur in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes. Neither of
these types of RNA carries instructions to direct the synthesis of a
polypeptide, but they play other important roles in protein synthesis.
rRNA
• Ribosomes are composed of rRNA and protein.
• As its name suggests, rRNA is a major constituent of ribosomes,
composing up to about 60% of the ribosome by mass and
providing the location where the mRNA binds.
• The rRNA ensures the proper alignment of the mRNA, tRNA,
and the ribosomes; the rRNA of the ribosome also has an
enzymatic activity (peptidyl transferase) and catalyzes the
formation of the peptide bonds between two aligned amino
acids during protein synthesis.
tRNA
• Transfer RNA is the third main type of RNA and one of the smallest,
usually only 70–90 nucleotides long.
• It carries the correct amino acid to the site of protein synthesis in the
ribosome.
• It is the base pairing between the tRNA and mRNA that allows for the
correct amino acid to be inserted in the polypeptide chain being
synthesized
• Any mutations in the tRNA or rRNA can result in global problems for
the cell because both are necessary for proper protein synthesis
tRNA
snRNA
• Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is a class of small RNA molecules that are found within the
splicing speckles and Cajal bodies of the cell nucleus in eukaryotic cells. The length of an
average snRNA is approximately 150 nucleotides. They are transcribed by either RNA
polymerase II or RNA polymerase III. Their primary function is in the processing of
pre-messenger RNA (hnRNA) in the nucleus. They have also been shown to aid in the
regulation of transcription factors (7SK RNA) or RNA polymerase II (B2 RNA), and
maintaining the telomeres.

• snRNA are always associated with a set of specific proteins, and the complexes are
referred to as small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP, often pronounced "snurps"). Each
snRNP particle is composed of a snRNA component and several snRNP-specific proteins
(including Sm proteins, a family of nuclear proteins). The most common human snRNA
components of these complexes are known, respectively, as: U1 spliceosomal RNA, U2
spliceosomal RNA, U4 spliceosomal RNA, U5 spliceosomal RNA, and U6 spliceosomal RNA.
Their nomenclature derives from their high uridine content.
 mRNA rRNA tRNA

Short (70-90 nucleotides),

stable RNA with extensive
Short, unstable, Longer, stable RNA
intramolecular base
single-stranded molecules composing 60%
Structure pairing; contains an amino
RNAcorresponding to a of ribosome
acid
gene encoded within DNA ’s mass
binding site and an mRNA
binding site

Ensures the proper

Serves as intermediary
alignment of mRNA, tRNA,
between DNA
and ribosome Carries the correct amino
and protein; used
Function during protein synthesis; acid to the site of protein
by ribosome
catalyzes peptide bond synthesis in the ribosome
to direct synthesis of
formation between amino
protein it encodes
acids
RNA as Hereditary Information
• Although RNA does not serve as the hereditary information in most cells,
RNA does hold this function for many viruses that do not contain DNA.
Thus, RNA clearly does have the additional capacity to serve as genetic
information. Although RNA is typically single stranded within cells, there is
significant diversity in viruses. Rhinoviruses, which cause the common cold;
influenza viruses; and the Ebola virus are single-stranded RNA viruses.
Rotaviruses, which cause severe gastroenteritis in children and other
immunocompromised individuals, are examples of double-stranded RNA
viruses. Because double-stranded RNA is uncommon in eukaryotic cells, its
presence serves as an indicator of viral infection. The implications for a
virus having an RNA genome instead of a DNA genome are discussed in
more detail in Viruses.