The 3 Types of RNA

Question 1

What are the 3 types of RNA called?

Answer 1

Messenger RNA - mRNA
Transfer RNA - tRNA
Ribosomal RNA - rRNA

Question 2

Function of messenger RNA.

Answer 2

It carries the ‘message’ that codes for a particular protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

Question 3

Structure of messenger RNA.

Answer 3

Single stranded and just long enough to contain one gene.

Short lifetime and becomes degraded soon after used.

Question 4

Function of transfer RNA.

Answer 4

Its an ‘adapter’ that matches amino acids to their codons.

Amino acids attach to their tRNA molecule by specific aminoacyl tRNA synthase enzymes.

Question 5

Structure of transfer RNA.

Answer 5

About 80 nucleotides long.
It folds up by complementary base pairing to form a looped clover-leaf.
One end of the molecule there is the base sequences ACC, where the amino acid binds.
Middle loop there is triplet nucleotide sequences called anticodon.

Question 6

How are transfer RNA highly specific?

Answer 6

Because each amino acid is attached to a tRNA adaptor with the appropriate anticodon.

Question 7

Function of ribosomal RNA.

Answer 7

rRNA together with proteins form ribsomes which are the site of mRNA translation and protein synthesis.
Ribsomes have 2 subunits (small and large) and they’re assembled in the nucleolus and exported into the cytoplasm.
rRNA is coded for by numerous genes in many different chromosomes.

Question 8

What does the location of ribsome determine?

Answer 8

The production of proteins.
Ribsomes free in cytoplasm make proteins for use in the cell.
Ribsomes attached to the RER make proteins for export.