Question

Which of the following are the substrates used during RNA elongation in bacterial transcription?

Options

• Ribonucleoside triphosphates (NTPs): ATP, GTP, CTP, and UTP

• Free ribonucleotides without phosphate groups

• Ribonucleoside diphosphates only

• Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs)

Answer 1

The substrates used during RNA elongation are ribonucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), specifically ATP, GTP, CTP, and UTP. These provide both the nucleotide building blocks and the energy (in the form of high-energy phosphate bonds) needed for polymerization. Unlike DNA synthesis which uses dNTPs, RNA synthesis uses ribonucleoside triphosphates with uracil instead of thymine.