Transcription and RNA Processing · Zoology

In prokaryotes, Rho-independent termination is characterized by the formation of what in the nascent RNA?

  1. A poly-A tail added to the 3' end
  2. A GC-rich hairpin followed by a U-rich stretch
  3. A 7-methylguanosine cap on the transcript
  4. A lariat loop in the nascent intron
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Correct answer: A GC-rich hairpin followed by a U-rich stretch

Rho-independent (intrinsic) termination involves a GC-rich palindromic sequence that folds into a hairpin in the nascent RNA, stalling RNA polymerase. The downstream A-U base pairs in the DNA-RNA hybrid are then too weak to hold the transcript, causing dissociation.

Difficulty: Medium Question 11 of 20

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