3.8 Nucleic Acids Flashcards
What are nucleic acids
Large polymers formed from nucleotides linked together in a chain
What elements are nucleic acids made from
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorous and oxygen
What 3 components is an individual nucleotide made up of
A pentose monosaccharide (sugar)
A phosphate group
A nitrogenous base
How many carbon atoms does a pentose monosaccharide contain
Five
What is a phosphate group
An inorganic molecule that is acidic and negatively charged
What is a nitrogenous base
A complex organic molecule containing one it two carbon rings in its structure as well as nitrogen
How are nucleotides linked together
Condensation reactions
What does linking nucleotides together by a condensation reaction form
A polymer called polynucleotide
What is a phosphodiester bond
Covalent bonds that are formed between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the hydroxyl (OH) group of another
How are the phosphorus duster bonds broken
Hydrolysis
What does the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds release
Individual nucleotides
What are the two types of DNA nucleotides
Pyrimidines and purines
What are pyrimidines
The smaller bases that contain single carbon ring structures
Which are the two pyrimidine bases
Thymine and cytosine
What are purines
The larger DNA nucleotide bases which contain double carbon ring structures
