3 - Nucleic acids & RNA Flashcards
chapter 4
Nucleic acids are comprised of a sugar, phospate group and a nitrogen containing base. Name the two groups of bases and their components
Pyrimidines: Uracil (RNA), Thymine, and Cytosine - single ring
Purine: Guanine, Adenine - double ring
What are the three substances that comprise a nucleotide?
1) Phosphate group
2) Sugar
3) Nitrogenous containing base
What kind of sugar does DNA have? RNA?
DNA - Deoxyribose
RNA - Ribose
What is the nemonic to remember the parent of Adenine, Guanine & Cytosine, Uracil, Thymine
Purine is pure like silver = Ag (Adenine & Guanine
Pyrimidine is shaped like a pie and you can CUT it (Cytosine, Uracil, Thymine)
In the DNA structure, why doesn’t the pyrimidine’s stick together?
size
What type of bond holds the strands of DNA together to form the double helix?
hydrogen bonds
Phosphodiester linkage is a __________ reaction
a dehydration reaction
H2O out
forms links in the nucleotide sequence
The chain of the carbon on the sugar binds to the phosphate group in a reaction called a phosphodiester linkage. Which pint on the sugar molecule does the link occur
form the 5’ to the 3’
The DNA sequence runs in opposite directions - what is this term that describes this structure?
antiparallel helix
Which base pairs link up in the DNA sequencing?
A-T - 2 H pairing
G-C 3 H pairing
contrast and compare the molecules of DNA & RNA
RNA - sugar is ribose
single strand - can helix with itself + loop
nitrogen containing base Uracil instead of Thymine
RNA the daughter of DNA
DNA - sugar is deoxyribose
double strand
nitrogen containing base Thymine instead of Uracil
DNA the template
What are the purposes of RNA?
to process DNA information, DNA’s workhorse to synthesize proteins, defend agains viruses, storage of info, enzymatic
What are the three steps to copying a DNA strand?
1 - Unzipping the helix either through heat or an enzyme
2 - polymerization- bonding each side to complementary base pairs = template strand
3 - copy of exact, originals strand zips back up
What is holding the antiparallel nucleotide chins together?
hydrogen bonds
Can RNA form a helix?
yes, it can form a helix with itself, yet that requires a loop at the top