rRNA

Question 1

what is ribosomal rRNA?

Answer 1

• rRNA are complex molecules that are folded into a highly compact, precise 3-dimensional shape
• they also consists of coiled & uncoiled regions, with the coiled regions being held by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases at different parts of the molecule

Question 2

what are the 3 roles of rRNA?

Answer 2

1. forms part of the structure of the ribosome
2. catalytic function
3. translation

Question 3

what role does rRNA play in forming part of the structure of the ribosome?

Answer 3

• in eukaryotes, the different rRNA is synthesized in the nucleolus of the nucleus when genes that code for them are transcribed
• the rRNA synthesized will combine with ribosomal proteins to form the small & large subunits of the ribosome
• the small & large subunit of the ribosome will then be exported out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm, where they will eventually assemble to form ribosomes

Question 4

how does rRNA have catalytic function?

Answer 4

• peptidyl-transferase, an enzyme located in the large ribosomal subunit, is responsible for the synthesis of peptide bonds between amino acids during translation elongation
• peptidyl transferase is made up of rRNA!!

Question 5

what role does rRNA play in translation?