What type of bonding is responsible for maintaining the shape of the tRNA molecule shown in the figure?

• A. Ionic bonding between phosphates.
• B. Hydrogen bonding between base pairs of nucleotides.
• C. Van der Waals interactions between hydrogen atoms.
• D. Peptide bonding between amino acids.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Examine the structure of the tRNA molecule shown in the image. Notice the presence of loops and stems, which are characteristic of tRNA secondary structure.
2. Identify the base pairs within the stems of the tRNA structure. These base pairs are typically formed by complementary nucleotides, such as adenine (A) pairing with uracil (U) and guanine (G) pairing with cytosine (C).
3. Understand that hydrogen bonds are responsible for the pairing between these complementary bases. Hydrogen bonds are weak interactions that occur between the hydrogen atom of one nucleotide and the electronegative atom (such as nitrogen or oxygen) of another nucleotide.
4. Recognize that these hydrogen bonds between base pairs help stabilize the three-dimensional structure of the tRNA molecule, maintaining its shape and allowing it to function properly during protein synthesis.
5. Conclude that the correct type of bonding responsible for maintaining the shape of the tRNA molecule is hydrogen bonding between base pairs of nucleotides, as opposed to ionic bonding, Van der Waals interactions, or peptide bonding.