Which termination process in prokaryotes is associated with a hairpin structure?

The process associated with a hairpin structure during transcription termination in prokaryotes is intrinsic termination, also known as Rho-independent termination. This process occurs when a specific sequence of nucleotides allows the newly synthesized RNA to fold back on itself, forming a stable hairpin or stem-loop structure. This secondary structure creates tension in the RNA-DNA hybrid, ultimately leading to the release of the RNA transcript from the RNA polymerase.

In intrinsic termination, following the hairpin structure, a stretch of uracils in the RNA typically follows the hairpin. The instability created by the combination of the hairpin and the U-rich sequence facilitates the dissociation of the RNA from the DNA template, effectively terminating transcription. This mechanism does not require any additional factors, which is why it's referred to as Rho-independent.

Understanding this mechanism is crucial as it highlights the differences in transcription termination processes and the roles of specific structures within the RNA during gene expression in prokaryotes.