Use the Following Information When Answering the Corresponding Question(s)

question 35

Multiple Choice

Use the following information when answering the corresponding question(s) .
Shu-ichi Nakano reported in Science in February 2000 that "the RNA enzyme (ribozyme) from hepatitis delta virus catalyzes self-cleavage of a . . . [chemical] . . . bond." This reaction is inherently slow due to the formation of an unfavorable negative charge on the ribozyme. The author goes on to show that this self-cleavage is made faster by joining it with an acid-base reaction that neutralizes the negative charge. Nakano's model describes a positively charged cytosine base on the ribozyme acting as the acid and magnesium hydroxide acting as the base. Specifically, the cytosine donates its proton (H+) to neutralize the unstable negative charge that would have formed on the ribozyme.
-Refer to Nakano's quote from Science. If the cytosine is positively charged (+) before self-cleavage, what would its charge be after self-cleavage?

• A) + (positive)
• B) − (negative)
• C) 0 (neutral)
• D) There is no way to predict.

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