RNA processing

Cleavage

Following synthesis by transcription, most RNA molecules are processed before reaching their final form. Many rRNA molecules are cleaved from much larger transcripts and may also be methylated or enzymatically modified. In addition, tRNAs are usually formed as longer precursor molecules that are cleaved by ribonuclease P to generate the mature 5′ end and often have extra residues added to their 3′ end to form the sequence CCA. The hydroxyl group on the ribose ring of the terminal A of the 3′-CCA sequence acts as the amino acid acceptor necessary for the function of RNA in protein building.