Question

What is the function of RNA primer during protein synthesis?

Answer 1

During protein synthesis, RNA primers serve as the starting point for DNA synthesis by providing a short sequence of RNA that DNA polymerase can bind to and begin extending.

RNA primers are crucial for DNA replication and repair, as they provide a template for the attachment of DNA polymerase, which then adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. Without RNA primers, DNA polymerase would not know where to begin synthesis, and replication and repair would be impossible.

However, during protein synthesis, RNA primers do not play a direct role. Instead, protein synthesis occurs on ribosomes, where messenger RNA (mRNA) provides the template for the assembly of amino acids into proteins. The process begins with the binding of a small ribosomal subunit to the mRNA, followed by the recruitment of tRNA molecules carrying specific amino acids. The tRNAs bind to the mRNA in a sequence determined by the codons (three-letter codes) on the mRNA, and the amino acids they carry are linked together by peptide bonds to form a protein.

So, in summary, RNA primers are not involved in protein synthesis. They play a crucial role in DNA replication and repair by providing a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin synthesis.