Chapter CHST2, Problem 1RQ

What are some of the different roles that RNA plays in biological systems?

Summary Introduction

To review:

The roles of RNA (ribonucleic acid) in the biological system.

Introduction:

RNA is a nucleic acid and present in the polymeric form. It performs many essential functions like coding, decoding, expression of genes, and regulation. It is less stable than DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and therefore is present mostly in form of the single strand and is also present in some organism as genetic material. In the biological system, it is present in many forms and performs different functions.

Explanation of Solution

RNA in the biological system is present in many different forms, such as mRNA (messenger), snRNA (small nuclear), miRNA (micro), siRNA (small interfering), riboswitches, and catalytic RNA. These different forms of the RNA perform different functions:

1. mRNA: Messenger RNAs are the coding RNA that carries the information to the ribosomes, these are a part of protein factories.

2. tRNA: Transfer RNA, these are the small RNA that transfers the specific amino acid to the growing chain of polypeptides during the translation process.

3. rRNA: Ribosomal RNA, these are the catalytic component of the ribosomes. These units bind to the proteins to form the ribosome at the time of translation.

4. snRNA: Small nuclear RNA, these are the noncoding RNA that regulates the gene expression by RNA splicing.

5. miRNA: Micro RNA, these are regulatory RNA that inhibits the gene expression by repressing the translation.

6. siRNA: Small interfering RNA, these are double-stranded RNA that operates the RNA interference process. It interferes with the expression of the gene by degrading the mRNA.

7. Riboswitches: These are the RNA regulatory elements. These are the RNA sensors that detect the metabolic and environmental signals and act accordingly affecting the gene expression.

8. Ribozymes: RNA with enzymatic activities are known as ribozymes. These play roles in replication, mRNA splicing, and processing.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is concluded that the different forms of RNA perform different roles of coding, noncoding, regulatory, and catalytic actions in the biological system.