Single-stranded nucleic acid
Bridge between DNA and protein
RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a single-stranded molecule built from nucleotides containing ribose sugar and the bases adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U). Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the genetic code from DNA to ribosomes, where it is translated into protein. Transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) are structural and catalytic players in translation. Some RNA molecules also regulate gene expression.