RNA can interact with __ Select one:
a. Ribosome
b. Proteins
c. All are correct
d. Telomerase
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is c. All are correct.
RNA plays several critical roles in the cell and interacts with various cellular components. The three options listed—ribosome, proteins, and telomerase—are all entities with which RNA interacts.
- Ribosome: RNA is crucial in protein synthesis, and it interacts with the ribosome during translation. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a key component of the ribosome and helps catalyze the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids. Messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic instructions from DNA, binds to the ribosome, where its codons are translated into a specific sequence of amino acids to form proteins.
- Proteins: RNA interacts with a variety of proteins, both directly and indirectly. One notable example is the interaction between mRNA and the proteins involved in translation, such as initiation factors, elongation factors, and release factors. Additionally, small RNAs like microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) interact with proteins to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Other RNA-binding proteins also play roles in RNA splicing, stability, and transport.
- Telomerase: Telomerase is an enzyme that adds repetitive nucleotide sequences to the ends of chromosomes (telomeres), which is important for the maintenance of chromosome stability. Telomerase contains an RNA component that serves as a template for adding these sequences. This RNA component interacts with the telomerase enzyme to ensure the proper extension of telomeres, a process that is essential for the longevity of cells, particularly in stem cells and germ cells.
Thus, RNA interacts with all of these components, making “All are correct” the best answer.