DNA & RNA Flashcards
Do DNA and RNA have a basic or acidic character?
Acidic.
DNA is located in which two areas
The nucleus and mitochondria
RNA is located in which two areas
The nucleus and cytoplasm
Nucleotides contain which three groups
Phosphate group, nitrogenous base, and pentose sugar
Which component of the nucleic acid gives it the acidic property?
The phosphate group
The phosphate group contains how many phosphates
1-3
Nucleotide monophosphate, diphosphate, or triphosphate.
Pentose sugar. What are each carbon attached to? C 1' C 2' C 3' C 5'
C 1’ - Attached to nitrogenous base
C 2’ - Attached to either a hydrogen (DNA) or hydroxyl group (RNA)
C 3’ - Attached to a hydroxyl group
C 5’ - Attached to the phosphate
List the purines and how many rings are in their structures?
Double ring structure. A and G
List the pyrimidines and how many rings are in their structures?
Single ring structure. T, C, and U
What does uracil bind with
A. Replaces T in RNA.
Coenzymes
Organic compounds necessary for enzymes to function
Component of coenzymes
NAD+, FAD, NADPH, and coenzyme A
Which four categories represent the functions of nucleotides
Building blocks of DNA and RNA.
Components of coenzymes
Second messengers
Energy source for biosynthetic reactions (ATP and ADP predominantly)
Nucleotides under ____ reactions to form nucleic acids. This is carried out by ____.
Condensation. In order to join nucleotides together, water is released. (This is a type of dehydration reaction). Carried out by DNA or RNA polymerase.
DNA and RNA polymerase can only catalyze the addition of a nucleotide to the ___ carbon
3’
Basses of nucleic acids are read in which direction?
In the 5’–> 3’ direction. Because polymerase can only add a new nucleotide to the 3’ end.
Which components of the nucleotide are hydrophilic? Hydrophobic?
The sugars and phosphate groups are hydrophilic. The nitrogenous bases are hydrophobic, which is why they face inward, away from water.
How many hydrogen bonds does each pair have?
- A and T
- G and C
- U and A
- 2 (weaker)
- 3
- 2 (weaker)
The double helix wraps around histones to form
Nucleosomes
Nucleosomes
DNA wrapped around histones
Nucleosomes grouped together forms
A chromatin fiber
Chromatin fiber
Nucleosomes grouped together
When does chromatin condense to form chromosomes?
During DNA replication
How do the pentose sugars of DNA and RNA differ?
DNA has an H at the 2’ carbon and RNA has an OH at the 2’ carbon.
H is less reactive than OH, making DNA a more stable molecule and less chemically reactive.
