DNA, ATP, Water and Ions Flashcards
What are nucleic acids primarily responsible for?
Storing and transmitting genetic information.
What are the two main types of nucleic acids?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
True or False: ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate.
True.
What is the function of ATP in cells?
ATP acts as a primary energy carrier.
Fill in the blank: The building blocks of nucleic acids are called __________.
nucleotides.
What are the three components of a nucleotide?
A phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
Which nitrogenous bases are found in DNA?
Adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.
What is the role of water in biological systems?
Water acts as a solvent, a temperature buffer, and is involved in biochemical reactions.
True or False: RNA contains thymine.
False. RNA contains uracil instead of thymine.
What is the significance of the double helix structure of DNA?
It allows for the stable storage of genetic information and replication.
Which type of nucleic acid is typically single-stranded?
RNA.
What is the primary energy currency of the cell?
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Fill in the blank: The process of synthesizing RNA from DNA is called __________.
transcription.
What is the role of ribosomes in relation to RNA?
Ribosomes translate mRNA into proteins.
What type of bond connects adjacent nucleotides in a nucleic acid strand?
Phosphodiester bonds.
True or False: Water has a high specific heat capacity.
True.
What is the primary function of ATP in metabolic processes?
To provide energy for cellular activities.
Which base pairs with adenine in DNA?
Thymine.
What is the role of helicase in DNA replication?
To unwind the DNA double helix.
Fill in the blank: The three phosphate groups in ATP are connected by __________ bonds.
high-energy.
What is the difference between DNA and RNA regarding sugar?
DNA contains deoxyribose, while RNA contains ribose.
True or False: Nucleotides can function as energy carriers.
True.
What is the process by which proteins are synthesized from mRNA?
Translation.
Which nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not in DNA?
Uracil.
What is the importance of water’s polarity?
It allows for hydrogen bonding and makes water an effective solvent.
Fill in the blank: DNA replication is described as __________ because each new strand contains one original and one new strand.
semi-conservative.
What is the role of DNA polymerase in DNA replication?
To synthesize new DNA strands by adding nucleotides.
True or False: ATP can be regenerated from ADP and inorganic phosphate.
True.
What is the significance of the sequence of nucleotides in DNA?
It determines the genetic information and instructions for building proteins.
What are the four bases in RNA?
Adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine.
Fill in the blank: Water’s high latent heat of vaporization helps organisms to __________.
regulate temperature.
What is the equation for the condensation reaction of ADP to ATP?
Adenosine Diphosphate + Inorganic phosphate + Energy –> Adenosine Triphosphate + Water
Which enzyme catalyzes the condensation reaction of ADP to ATP?
ATP synthase
What is the equation for the hydrolysis reaction of ATP to ADP?
Adenosine Triphosphate + Water –> Adenosine Diphosphate + Inorganic phosphate + Energy
Which enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction of ATP to ADP?
ATP hydrolase
What is phosphorylation?
The bonds between outer phosphate groups in ATP are unstable so have a low activation energy. A single hydrolysis reaction can remove a phosphate, which can form bonds with other molecules which releases energy. This process is called phosphorylation.
How is energy released from ATP?
A single hydrolysis reaction can remove a phosphate, which can form bonds with other molecules which releases energy
What are the three components of ATP?
Adenine, Ribose, 3x inorganic phosphate
What does ATP stand for?
Adenosine Triphosphate
What is the equation for aerobic respiration?
Glucose + Oxygen –> Carbon Dioxide + Water + ATP
What is the function of the mitochondria?
Mitochondria is the site where energy is released/where ATP is produced via aerobic respiration.
Give 2 uses of energy
- Active transport – e.g. glucose absorption, ion uptake at roots
- Muscle contraction – for movement
- Protein synthesis – for growth and repair
- Phosphorylation – Making molecules more reactive by lowering their activation energy
How did Meselson and Stahl prove semi conservative replication?
The hybrid DNA in the experiment showed that an old strand of lighter DNA and a new strand of heavy DNA made the new DNA.
Describe how DNA is replicated
- Strands are separated and hydrogen bonds break
- By DNA Helicase
- Both strands act as templates
- Free nucleotides are attracted
- Hydrogen bonds reform
- Complementary/specific base pairing
- DNA polymerase joins nucleotides by forming phosphodiester bonds
- Semi-conservative replication/new DNA molecules contain 1 old strand and one new one
What 4 things are required for DNA replication to happen?
- A DNA molecule to be replicated
- Free DNA nucleotides
- DNA helicase
- DNA polymerase
Describe the structure of DNA and explain how it aids its function
- Phosphodiester backbone, prevents organic bases reacting with the environment
- Long molecule, which allows it to store a lot of information
- Double helix, makes DNA compact
- Weak H bonds join base pairs which are easily broken for DNA replication
- Double stranded which allows replication from template strands
- Base sequence, allows information to be stored
- Base stacking, makes DNA stable
What is base stacking?
Additional forces between adjacent base pairs that hold the molecule together
What are bonds that hold adjacent nucleotides together called?
Phosphodiester bonds
What are the specific base pairs in a strand of DNA?
Adenine + Uracil
Cytosine + Guanine
What are the specific base pairs in a strand of DNA?
Adenine + Thymine
Cytosine + Guanine
What is the pentose sugar in a RNA nucleotide?
Ribose
What is the pentose sugar in a DNA nucleotide?
Deoxyribose
What are the four nitrogenous bases in RNA?
Adenine
Uracil
Cytosine
Guanine
What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine
What are the three components of a nucleotide?
Phosphate, Pentose Sugar, Nitrogenous base
What type of bonds join opposite nucleotides?
Hydrogen
How does the structure of RNA differ from DNA?
- RNA has Uracil, DNA has Thymine
- RNA is short, DNA is long
- RNA is single stranded, DNA is double stranded
- RNA has ribose sugar, DNA has deoxyribose
Importance of Iron ions:
Iron ions are in haemoglobin. It binds to the oxygen in haemoglobin temporarily becoming an Fe3+ ion until oxygen is released.
Importance of Hydrogen:
pH is calculated based on the concentration of H+ ions, Enzyme-catalyzed reactions are affected by the pH.
Importance of Sodium:
Na+ is involved in glucose / amino acid absorption into the ileum, via a carrier protein that carries out co transport.
Importance of Phosphate:
Bonds between PO4 3- groups store energy in ATP. Phosphate groups in DNA and RNA allow nucleotides to join to form polynucleotides
