Question

Some RNA molecules are covalently modified by methylation at the N⁶position in adenosine residues. Draw the structure of the modified nucleoside.

Short answer

The methylated structure of adenine is N⁶-methyladenosine.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Nucleotides are the chemical building units of nucleic acids. It is a three component molecule that is made up of a nitrogenous base, a sugar ribose or deoxyribose, and at least one phosphate group. The nucleotide's nitrogenous bases are a purine or pyrimidine base connected to ribose in RNA.

N⁶-Methyladenosine

Adenine is a purine base. it is a bicyclic, planer molecule that forms two hydrogen bonds with thymine. The structure of N-methyladenosine, a ribonucleic acid modification, is shown (mRNA) where the N⁶ location of the adenine base is methylated.

Pictorial representation of N⁶-Methyladenosine.

Thus, the methylated structure of adenine residues of RNA molecules is N^-Methyladenosine.