Question

If cordycepin triphosphate is added to a cell-free transcription reaction, the nucleotide is added onto the growing rna chain but no more nucleotides can then be added. the added cordycepin is always found at the 3' end of an rna. examine the structure of cordycepin and explain why it ends transcription.

Answer 1

Cordycepin is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine and because of their’s similarity it can be incorporated into RNA and inhibit RNA chain elongation. The end of the RNA synthesis occurs due to the absence of a hydroxyl group in the 3' position of cordycepin’s ribose.