In the following representation of a single-stranded RNA molecule, the nucleotide residues are drawn as gray circles, while base-pairing interactions between them are indicated by dashed lines. The structure of this RNA molecule has...
A) one hairpin loop and one pseudoknot.
B) one pseudoknot only.
C) three hairpin loops and a four-stem junction.
D) two hairpin loops and a three-nucleotide bulge.
E) three hairpin loops.

Question

In the following representation of a single-stranded RNA molecule, the nucleotide residues are drawn as gray circles, while base-pairing interactions between them are indicated by dashed lines. The structure of this RNA molecule has... 
A) one hairpin loop and one pseudoknot. 
B) one pseudoknot only. 
C) three hairpin loops and a four-stem junction. 
D) two hairpin loops and a three-nucleotide bulge. 
E) three hairpin loops.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The RNA molecule folds into a structure (shown below) with two hairpins; one with a five-nucleotide loop, and the other with a four-nucleotide loop. The former hairpin also has a three-nucleotide bulge in its 5' stem. A three-way junction is formed at the base of the two hairpins.
 11ea33de_1b54_a5f5_bddc_d90d1107b382_TB1030_00

In the Following Representation of a Single-Stranded RNA Molecule, the Nucleotide