Finals: Nucleic acid Flashcards
an unbranched polymer in which the
monomer units are nucleotides.
Nucleic Acids
functions of nucleic acids
Provides information on how to make new cells
location of nucleic acids
Initially found in cell nuclei and are acidic in nature; hence the name nucleic acid
who discovered nucleic acids
Friedrich Miescher in 1869 while studying the nuclei of white blood cells.
Type of nucleic acid:
- It is found within the cell nucleus
- Stores and transfers genetic
information - Passes from existing cells to
new cells during cell division
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Type of nucleic acid:
- Occurs in all parts of a cell
- Primary function is the
synthesis of proteins
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
what are the components of a nucleotide
Pentose sugar, Heterocyclic base, Phosphate group (PO43-)
a three-subunit molecule in which a pentose sugar is bonded to both a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic base.
Nucleotide
what are the components of a nucleotide
Pentose sugar §Heterocyclic base §Phosphate group (PO43-)
all of these are covalently bonded together
The structural difference between ribose and pentose 2′ - deoxyribose occurs at
carbon 2′
Pentose sugar: present in ribose
-OH Group
pentose sugar:
present in 2’-deoxyribose
-H atom
pentose sugar: present in RNA
Ribose
pentose sugar:
present in DNA
2’-Deoxyribose
what are the 5 total nitrogen containing heterocylic bases?
3 pyrimidine deriatives - thyme (T), Cytosine (C), Uracil (U)
What are the 2 purine derivatives?
Adenine (A) and Guanine (G)
Adenine, Guanine, and Cytosine are found in both
DNA
and RNA
found only in RNA
uracil
found only in DNA
Thymine
The third component of a nucleotide
phosphate
Derived from phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
phosphate
it loses how what and how many in result of formation of a ?
2 hydrogen atoms, hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO 4^-2)
the sequence in which nucleotides are linked together in a nucleic acid.
Primary nucleic acid structure
nucleotide directionality:
5’ end
a free phosphate group attached
to the 5’ carbon atom
nucleotide directionality: 3’ end
a free hydroxyl group attached to the 3’ carbon
The name of the polynucleotide is named from:
5’ -> 3’ end
ü 5’ C-A-T-G 3’
- Primary structure depends on the
sequence of bases present
The alternating sugar-phosphate chain in a nucleic acid structure is often called the
nucleic acid backbone
this is called the nucleic acid backbone
alternating sugar-phosphate chain in a nucleic acid structure