Molecule Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples - v1.26, by Herong Yang
RNA Primary Structure - Helix
This section provides a quick introduction of the primary structure of a RNA (Ribonucleic Acid), which is a helix formed by the backbone of the RNA with all nucleobases enclosed inside.
What Is the primary structure of a RNA? - The primary structure of a RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is the helix conformation formed by the backbone (the chain of sugar-phosphate pairs) of its nucleotide residue sequence.
When multiple nucleotides link together to as a RNA, the chain of sugar-phosphate pairs forms the backbone like a ribbon to carry its nucleobases, Adenosine (A), Cytidine (C), Guanosine (G) and Uridine (U), in a given order. See the diagram below (source: kctcs.edu):
When a RNA gets more nucleotides linked and becomes longer, its backbone ribbon starts to bend and twist into a helix conformation. All nucleobases are arranged to stay inside the helix and point to the center line of the helix. See the diagram below (source: brainly.com):
Other RNA structures exist also. See the diagram below (source: springer.com):
Table of Contents
Molecule Names and Identifications
►Nucleobase, Nucleoside, Nucleotide, DNA and RNA
What Is RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
What Is DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
►RNA Primary Structure - Helix
DNA Primary Structure - Double Helix
What Is DNA/RNA Base and Sequence Pair
ChEMBL Database - European Molecular Biology Laboratory
PubChem Database - National Library of Medicine
INSDC (International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration)
HGNC (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee)