Use the following information when answering the corresponding question(s).
Shu-ichi Nakano reported in Science in February 2000 that "the RNA enzyme (ribozyme) from hepatitis delta virus catalyzes self-cleavage of a . . . [chemical] . . . bond." This reaction is inherently slow due to the formation of an unfavorable negative charge on the ribozyme. The author goes on to show that this self-cleavage is made faster by joining it with an acid-base reaction that neutralizes the negative charge. Nakano's model describes a positively charged cytosine base on the ribozyme acting as the acid and magnesium hydroxide acting as the base. Specifically, the cytosine donates its proton (H+) to neutralize the unstable negative charge that would have formed on the ribozyme.
-Which of the following chemical bonds do you think Nakano is referring to in his quote?
A) peptide
B) glycosidic
C) phosphodiester
D) ionic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The self-cleavage of the RNA enzyme from hepatitis delta virus is catalyzed by cleaving the phosphodiester bond, which joins two nucleotides together. This reaction is inherently slow due to the formation of an unfavorable negative charge on the ribozyme, which is neutralized by an acid-base reaction. The positively charged cytosine base on the ribozyme acts as an acid and donates its proton (H+) to neutralize the unstable negative charge that would have formed on the ribozyme.

Use the Following Information When Answering the Corresponding Question(s)