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Kaplan USMLE Review > Biochemistry: Nucleic Acid Structure and Function > Flashcards

Biochemistry: Nucleic Acid Structure and Function Flashcards

1
Q

The phosphate group on a nucleic acid strand is usually found at what end: the 5’ end or the 3’ end?

A

5’ end of the nuclei acid strand on the pentose sugar

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2
Q

The hydroxyl group on the pentose sugar of the nucleic acid strand found at what end: the 5’ end of the 3’ end?

A

the 3’ end of the nuclei acid strand on the pentose sugar

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3
Q

Nucleotides are linked by what specific type of bonds?(include the numbers for the bonds)

A

3’-5’ phosphodiester bonds

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4
Q

What is significant about the 3’ and the 5’ end of a nuclei acid strand or a DNA molecule?

A

The fact that they’re distinct

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5
Q

The sequence of a nucleic acid strange are always conveyed in what direction?

A

5’ end tot he 3’ end

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6
Q

What type of nucleotides are found in the genome in eukaryotes? What is the exception?

A

dsDNA and ssRNA. Some viruses have dsRNA and ssDNA.

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7
Q

What is the structural formula of a DNA molecule and where do you find all of the significant bonds?(hydrogen bonds and phophodiester bonds)

A
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8
Q

What is Chargaff’s rule?

A

%G = % C and %T = %A and %purine = % pyrimidine

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9
Q

How many base pairs per complete turn of the DNA helix?

A

10 bases

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10
Q

Z-DNA is right handed or left handed?

A

left handed

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11
Q

Z-DNA is rich in what type of nucleic acid base pairs?

A

G-C

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12
Q

These drugs exert their effects by intercalating between the bases of DNA, thereby interfering with the activity of topoisomerase II and preventing proper replication of the DNA

A

doxorubin or danourubicin

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13
Q

What is the mechanism of danourubicin and doxorubicin?

A

intercalates between bases of DNA and interfere with the action of topoisomerase II

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14
Q

What drug binds tightly to the DNA, cauasing structural distortion and malfunction

A

cisplatin

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15
Q

Where is the major groove and the minor groove on a DNA molecule?

A
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16
Q

Denaturation of DNA takes place via what processes?(3 points)

A

heat, alkaline pH and chemicals

17
Q

What are examples of chemicals that may denature DNA?(2 points)

A

urea and foramide

18
Q

What is the general shape of mitochondrial DNA and DNA of most prokaryotes?

A

closed circular structures

19
Q

What type of supercoiled DNA is used in most biologic reactions?

A

(-)

20
Q

What is the difference betwen positive supercoiled and negative supercoiled?

A

Negative supercoiled is wound less tightly then Watson-Crick model and positive supercoil is wound more tightly than the Watsin-Crick model of the DNA

21
Q

What is the basic packaging unit of chromatin?

A

nucleosome

22
Q

A series of chromosome can be described structurally and numberically as what?

A

10 nm of chromatin fiber

23
Q

The histone octamer is formed by what?

A

two copies of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 histone proteins

24
Q

What is the purpose of the H1 histone protein?

A

Histone H1 is associated with the linker DNA found between nucleosomes to help package them into a solenoid-like structure, which is a thick 30 nm fiber

25
Q

How is DNA packaged in the chromatin structure?

A

The DNA is wound aroun the outside octamer, forming the nuclesome

26
Q

How is DNA associated with the histone octamer?

A

it is wound around the outside of the histone octamer

27
Q

Histones are rich in what type of amino acid?

A

Lysine and Arginine

28
Q

What type of charge is on the histone protein

A

positive charge

29
Q

Each eukaryotic chromosome in Go or G1 contains what specific type of DNA?

A

one linear molecule of dsDNA

30
Q

What form of chromatin is more open and available for gene expression?

A

euchromatin

31
Q

The special ribosome assembly occurs in what organelle/suborganelle in a eukaryotic cell?

A

nucleolus

32
Q

A base compositional analysis that deviates from Chargaff’s rule is indicate of what?

A

single stranded nucleic acid molecule, not double stranded

33
Q

The addition of a phosphate to a nucleoside converts it to what?

A

a nucleotide

34
Q

Why is it important for the histone protein in the octamer molecules to have a positive charge?

A

the DNA has a negative charge, it facilitates better interaction

35
Q
A

D

36
Q
A

C

37
Q
A

A

38
Q
A

E

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