Question

Which of the following molecules of RNA would you predict to be the most likely to fold into a specific structure as a result of intramolecular (within itself) base-pairing? Explain your reasoning.

a. 5′-CCCUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAGGG-3′
b. 5′-UGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUG-3′
c. 5′-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-3′
d. 5′-GGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGGGGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGG-3′

Answer 1

The RNA molecule most likely to fold into a specific structure is 5'-GGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGGGGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGG-3' due to its multiple complementary base pairs that allow for stable secondary structure formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule of RNA most likely to fold into a specific structure because of intramolecular base-pairing is option d. The sequence 5'-GGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGGGGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGG-3' contains multiple sets of complementary base pairs that can pair with each other, allowing for the formation of a stable secondary structure with a well-defined three-dimensional shape. In contrast, sequences with long runs of the same nucleotide, like in options a and c, are less likely to form stable structures, and b has a repeating pattern that may form some structure, but it is less complex than the one that could be formed by d, given its varied and complementary base pairings.