Why is RNA more susceptible to nucleophilic attack than DNA?
RNA is susceptible to this base-catalyzed hydrolysis because the ribose sugar in RNA has a hydroxyl group at the 2′ position. This feature makes RNA chemically unstable compared to DNA, which does not have this 2′ -OH group and thus is not susceptible to base-catalyzed hydrolysis.
What makes RNA more unstable?
Unlike DNA, RNA is usually single-stranded. Additionally, RNA contains ribose sugars rather than deoxyribose sugars, which makes RNA more unstable and more prone to degradation.
Why is RNA more stable?
Unlike DNA, RNA in biological cells is predominantly a single-stranded molecule. While DNA contains deoxyribose, RNA contains ribose, characterised by the presence of the 2′-hydroxyl group on the pentose ring (Figure 5). This hydroxyl group make RNA less stable than DNA because it is more susceptible to hydrolysis.
Is RNA stable under acidic conditions?
As indicated by the reviewer, lower temperature conditions are not incompatible with our proposal of an acidic environment of the RNA world, and indeed RNA is stable at acid pH over a wide range of temperatures, with modest changes in pH for optimum stability (as shown by Kua and Bada [30], ribose, cytosine and the …
Why is DNA stable but not RNA?
Due to its deoxyribose sugar, which contains one less oxygen-containing hydroxyl group, DNA is a more stable molecule than RNA, which is useful for a molecule which has the task of keeping genetic information safe. RNA, containing a ribose sugar, is more reactive than DNA and is not stable in alkaline conditions.
Why is RNA not stable in alkaline conditions?
RNA is uniquely unstable in alkaline conditions because bases can easily deprotonate the hydrogen from the hydroxyl group on the 2′-carbon atom (Fig. 1).
Which RNA is most stable?
ribosomal RNA
Solution : The most stable form of RNA is ribosomal RNA.
Which is highly unstable RNA?
So, the correct answer is ‘Heterogeneous nuclear RNA’.
How does RNA maintain its stable structure?
RNA exists as one strand, unlike the famous double helix of DNA, which is composed of two strands. The single-stranded RNA can create bonds with itself at different locations to create numerous 3D structures.
Why is RNA unstable at high pH?
Is RNA stable at pH 8?
Yes for RNA typically acidic phenol is used for extraction, and water for dissolution are used, but it is also stable in classical buffers such as TrisHCl EDTA at pH7-8. Even if you incubate your RNA at pH9.
Which is more stable between DNA and RNA and why?
Due to its deoxyribose sugar, which contains one less oxygen-containing hydroxyl group, DNA is a more stable molecule than RNA, which is useful for a molecule which has the task of keeping genetic information safe.
Why is RNA more reactive than DNA?
RNA is single stranded while DNA is double stranded. – RNA contains the deoxyribose sugar while DNA contains the deoxyribose sugar which means that DNA lacks one Oxygen containing hydroxyl group. So, the presence of an extra –OH group makes RNA more reactive and less stable.
Which of the following RNA is least stable?
mRNA
mRNA is least stable and tRNA is less stable than rRNA due to its constitution and unstructured structure. RNA is not a genetic material of cells but many viruses do use RNA as their genetic material.
How long is RNA stable at?
RNA is generally stable at -80° C for up to a year without degradation. Magnesium and other metals catalyze non-specific cleavages in RNA, and so should be chelated by the addition of EDTA if RNA is to be stored and retrieved intact.
Which is more structurally stable DNA or RNA?
What stabilizes RNA structure?
The 2′-hydroxyl group of the RNA backbone is a stabilizing component in many tertiary interactions, since it can make two hydrogen bonds, acting as both hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor.
Is RNA naturally stable?
What happens to RNA at high pH?
In RNA, the hydroxyl group on the 2′ position can give up a hydrogen ion to the solution at high pH, creating a highly reactive alkoxide ion that attacks the phosphate group holding two neighboring nucleotides together. DNA does not suffer from this defect and thus enjoys remarkable stability at high pH.
How long is RNA stable at 4c?
Naked RNA purified from human plasma positive for HCV was stable at 4 degrees C for at least 24 months. An RNA standard transcribed in vitro was still viable after 36 months of storage at 4 degrees C. Human plasma dilutions positive for HCV were stable for at least 5 months in this solution when stored at 4 degrees C.
Why RNA is more labile and easily degradable?
The RNA has a free 2′ hydroxyl group which makes it more labile and easily degradable. DNA does not have any such free groups present due to which it is more stable. 2. DNA has thymine (5′-Methyl uracil) in place of uracil which provides it the additional stability.
Why is RNA more reactive and less stable than DNA?
Comparison of reactivity and stability of RNA and DNA:
– RNA contains the deoxyribose sugar while DNA contains the deoxyribose sugar which means that DNA lacks one Oxygen containing hydroxyl group. So, the presence of an extra –OH group makes RNA more reactive and less stable.
What form of RNA is most stable?
Which is more stable tRNA or rRNA?
So, rRNA are synthesised and remain in the cells for very longer periods of time. The other forms like mRNA and tRNA are synthesised whenever there is a requirement of the specific protein. mRNA is least stable and tRNA is less stable than rRNA due to its constitution and unstructured structure.