RNA is a macromolecule, which is composed of nucleotides, which translate genetic information from DNA into proteins. DNA is prone to damage from ultraviolet rays, while RNA is resistant to UV radiation. Let us explore the differences between the two molecules in this article.
RNA is a molecule that translates genetic information from DNA into proteins
The process of translation begins with the creation of a complex on the mRNA molecule. This complex is composed of three initiation factor proteins, methionine-carrying tRNA, and a small subunit of the ribosome. These proteins then attach to the mRNA strand near the AUG start codon, which signals the initiation of translation.
RNA is a family of RNA molecules that carry the genetic information from DNA and are translated into proteins by the enzyme ribosomes. Each mRNA molecule carries a specific sequence of nucleotides, which ribosomes read to produce a polymer of amino acids. It plays a critical role in one of the central dogmas of molecular biology – the transfer of sequence information from one DNA molecule to another.
DNA contains the genetic code for the cell, which determines the cell’s structure and function. This information is stored in a sequence of nucleotides called a DNA strand. To read the DNA code, cells must perform two steps sequentially. First, a molecule called RNA polymerase II reads the DNA and synthesizes messenger RNA, or mRNA, which is complementary to the corresponding gene. Secondly, the mRNA molecule must be translated into a protein molecule.
The ribosome contains two-thirds RNA, and one third protein. The discovery of the ribosome structure was a major triumph of modern structural biology. It confirmed that rRNAs control the overall shape of the ribosome. Furthermore, rRNAs are folded into highly compact three-dimensional structures, which determine the overall shape of the ribosome.
RNA is resistant to UV damage
While DNA is easily damaged by UV radiation, RNA is relatively resistant to this damage. The difference lies in its structure and composition. DNA contains thymine, while RNA contains uracil nucleotides. The adenovirus is not as sensitive to UV illumination. However, RNA can be damaged by UV rays when it associates with proteins.
The length of time needed to damage RNA by UV shadowing was calculated for 200-nucleotide RNA. The length of time required for damage to occur was significantly greater than the UV-curve length. This difference was due to a skin effect that causes a four-fold greater variance in the exposure time than the Poisson distribution. To reduce the risk of UV-induced damage, researchers can use longer wavelength lamps and thicker gels.
Structural RNAs have extensive pairing. For example, the compact cloverleaf structure of tRNAs shows this. Other RNAs, like small nuclear RNAs, have extensive pairing. Direct DNA damage is caused when UV-B rays bind to thymine residues, which disrupt the strand. However, RNA’s Uracil base replaces thymine, which prevents the formation of pyrimidine dimers.
MS2 coliphage is susceptible to UV damage at wavelengths lower than 240 nm. This virus consists of a protein capsid around an RNA core. Therefore, damage to RNA or viral proteins must result in loss of infectious ability. Furthermore, NIST laser data shows that MS2 is inactivated as a function of UV dose. The lower operational limit of the NIST laser combined with results at 210 nm indicate that UV-induced damage to MS2 must be caused by damage to the viral protein and RNA.
It is a macromolecule
DNA is a macromolecule with a very large molecular weight. It is the hereditary material that is shared by all living things, including humans. DNA is made of a helix-shaped structure made up of pairs of nucleobases. Unlike RNA, which only has one strand, DNA is the main genetic blueprint.
DNA is made up of two strands of nucleotides linked together by phosphodiester bonds. It carries the instructions for cell function and reproduction and is essential to life as we know it. DNA replicates itself and passes genetic information from parent to offspring. The double helix structure of DNA results from the nucleosides being bonded in a specific way.
DNA has four types of nucleotide units. Each unit contains five carbons and one or more phosphate groups. It also contains one or more nitrogen-containing bases. Each unit has a unique sequence of nucleotides. In addition, the nucleotides are attached to a phosphate group and a five-carbon sugar. The phosphate group serves as a template for duplicating the sequence of bases.
DNA is made up of polynucleotides that are linked together. Nucleotides consist of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group. The nucleotide chain is similar to a necklace that has four different beads.
It is made up of nucleotides
Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Each nucleotide consists of three parts: a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group. The sugar molecule occupies the central position of the molecule, while the base and phosphate group attach to the other two carbons. These three parts combine to form the genetic code of each living entity.
The nitrogenous bases that make up DNA and RNA are adenine, guanine, and cytosine. The bases are linked together by phosphodiester bonds. The nitrogenous bases of DNA and RNA are designed to perform specific jobs. They have been used in medical research, commercial genetic testing, and forensics.
DNA and RNA are made up of monomers called nucleotides. The two are similar, but their functions are different. DNA stores genetic information in chromosomes and RNA transfers it to the ribosomes where proteins are synthesized.
DNA is found in the nucleus of eukaryotes, mitochondria in plants, and chloroplast in animals. RNA is found in a variety of cell types. In eukaryotes, DNA is found in the chloroplast and mitochondria, while RNA is found in plasmids and in the nucleoid in prokaryotes. Ribosomes contain messenger RNA and contain the nucleotides adenine, cytosine, and guanine.
DNA and RNA are monomers composed of four nitrogenous bases. DNA is double-stranded while RNA is single-stranded. DNA is a right-handed helix, and the helix diameter of A-DNA is the widest of all the DNA forms.
It has a left-handed helical structure
There is a slight difference between DNA and RNA in their helical structures. The former is a double-stranded chain and has a right-handed helical structure. The latter is a single-stranded chain with a left-handed helical structure. In addition, RNA has a zigzag phosphate backbone. This makes it a flexible structure.
Although the primary structure of DNA is known, the secondary structure was unknown until the 1950s. Many researchers struggled with this problem. Eventually, the Chargaff’s molar equivalences were thought to be a critical factor. And later, Rosalind Franklin obtained X-ray diffraction evidence confirming that DNA possesses a double-helical structure.
DNA is made up of four different nucleotides (bases). Each of the four nucleotides has a distinct structure and is connected to each other through double hydrogen bonds. The nucleotides bind together at sugar and phosphate molecules and form a double helix.
RNA uses sugar, called ribose, as its primary component. Unlike DNA, which uses 2′-deoxyribose as its sugar, ribose is more suitable for RNA. However, the extra hydroxyl group of ribose makes it difficult to form a uniform double-helix structure and prevents efficient packing of chromosomes. Moreover, ribose is subject to spontaneous hydrolytic cleavage, which is 100 times faster than DNA.
Z-DNA is also present in the body and is known to have biological relevance. It is believed to play a role in autoimmune diseases and cancer. It has also been linked to three inherited neurological disorders. It flips between a right-handed and a left-handed conformation as part of a dynamic code.
It is self-replicating
There is much debate on whether DNA and RNA are self-replicating. Although DNA is the oldest of the two, many biologists suspect that RNA was not. They’ve been exploring the possibility of a world where DNA and RNA did not form until many millions of years ago. This theory is based on the fact that DNA and RNA are related, but different in some ways.
The main difference between RNA and DNA is that DNA is a molecule that can replicate itself without the aid of a host cell. RNA, on the other hand, is made up of strands that are joined by a non-covalent end. This allows for a highly stable genetic code. This means that it can be passed from one cell to another without any damage to the host cell.
RNA can be directly or indirectly self-replicating. The PSTVd virus, for example, replicates itself by infecting plants. RNA-dependent RNA polymerases can make RNA molecules of the same length as DNA, but these RNAs are not self-replicating. Neither are viruses. For RNA to be self-replicating, it must produce RNA that’s twice as long as itself.
The enzyme responsible for encoding DNA into RNA was discovered in 1982. In addition, it was found in a single-celled animal called Tetrahymena thermophila. RNA is capable of catalyzing only a few types of chemical reactions. Its ability to do so greatly increased the speed of evolution.
