Biology - RNA Structure and ATP

• Ribonucleic Acid
• It is a smaller/shorter polynucleotide chain than DNA
• DNA is stable, whereas, RNA is created for its job then breaks down (short lived)
• Thymine base is replaced by uracil
• Involves the same idea of 3-5 prime ends

There are three types of RNA:

• messenger RNA - involved in protein synthesis; in nucleus and cytoplasm; simple strand; 1000 nucleotides long; complementary to DNA bases to make proteins
• transfer RNA - involved in protein synthesis; in nucleus and cytoplasm; 80 nucleotides long; attach to different amino acids and bring them to mRNA
• ribosomal RNA - found in ribosomes; may be single or double stranded; long (longer than 1000 nucleotides, and therefore more complex)

ADP + Inorganic phosphate (Pi) (+Energy) <-> ATP (+H20)

• Going right (->) the enzyme used to make ATP is ATP synthase. This is a condensation reaction
• Going left (<-) the enzyme used to break down ATP is ATP hydrolase. This is a hydrolysis reaction.
• In extreme circumstances, ADP can become adenosine monophosphate
• Dephosphoylation of ATP gives ADP and an inorganic ion
• ADP can rephosphorylate into ATP

• Adenosine triphosphate
• Mitochondria are involved in its production
• It is known as the universal energy carrier (even though it cannot be transferred between cells - the cell its made is where it stays because its too unstable)
• Made up of a nitrogenous base (Adenine), a ribose sugar and three phosphates
• It is an unstable molecule because its easily formed and broken down. It isn't supposed to be stable (e.g of stable molecules includes lipids and carbs)