Chapter 5 Nucleic Acids and their Functions Flashcards

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1
Q

Define nucleotide

A

Monomer of nuclei acid comprising of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.

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2
Q

What are the two types of organic bases?

A

Pyrimidines

Purines

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3
Q

What are examples of pyrimidines?

A

Thymine, cytosine, uracil

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4
Q

What are examples of purines?

A

Adenine and guanine

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5
Q

What does ATP stand for?

A

Adenosine triphosphate

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6
Q

Why is ATP called the ‘universal energy currency’?

A

It is involved in energy changes in all living organisms.

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7
Q

What is the structure of ATP?

A

Adenine, ribose and 3 phosphate groups.

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8
Q

How does ATP release energy?

A

The enzyme ATPase hydrolyses the bond between the second and third phosphate groups, removing the third one. This produces ADP and a phosphate ion with the release of chemical energy.

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9
Q

How is ATP synthesised?

A

ADP and a phosphate ion can combine in a condensation reaction, to make ATP and water. The addition of a phosphate to ADP is called phosphorylation.

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10
Q

How much energy does the hydrolysis of ATP produce?

A

-30.6 KJmol^-1

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11
Q

What are the biological roles of ATP?

A

Metabolic processes
Active transport
Nerve transmission

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12
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribose nucleic acid

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13
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

Two polynucleotide strands wound in a double helix. The pentose sugar is deoxyribose and the four nitrogenous bases are adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine.

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14
Q

What are the complementary base pairs?

A

Adenine with thymine

Cytosine and guanine

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15
Q

What bonds hold the complementary base pairs?

A

Hydrogen bonds

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16
Q

Why is DNA suited to its function?

A

It is a stable molecule
It is a large molecule allowing it to carry a large amount of genetic information
The two strands are able to separate
The genetic information is protected by the sugar-phosphate backbone

17
Q

What does RNA stand for?

A

Ribonucleic acid

18
Q

What is the structure of RNA?

A

Single stranded polynucleotide containing the pentose sugar ribose. It contains the bases adenine, uracil, cytosine and guanine.

19
Q

What are the three types of RNA involved in protein synthesis?

A
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
20
Q

What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

A

It is synthesised in the nucleus and carries the genetic code from the DNA to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

21
Q

What is the function of rRNA in protein synthesis?

A

Found in the cytoplasm and is a constituent of ribosomes.

22
Q

What is the function of tRNA in protein synthesis?

A

Carries anticodons and transports specific amino acids to the ribosomes.