Secondary
Structure of ribosomal RNA
(rRNA)
In
contrast
with DNA, the -OH
on the 2'-carbon of the ribose sugar in RNA
prevents
formation of stable double-helices. The secondary
structure of rRNA
in consequence is a complex pattern of short double-stranded
stems, [red blocks]
interspersed with unpaired single-stranded loops and
bubbles [black
lines]. Note that the
rRNA structure above
is a
single, continuous strand H-bonded
back
on itself, with a 5' beginning
and 3'
end. The tertiary structure of rRNA will fold
this
structure up
amongst a complex of proteins.