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CLS4007-B: Biology (Semester 1) > L9 - Nucleic Acids > Flashcards

L9 - Nucleic Acids Flashcards

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1
Q

Where do organisms store protein structure information?

A

In macromolecules known as nucleic acids

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2
Q

Where is information passed to?

A

Information is passed onto daughter cells during cell division

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3
Q

What do nucleic acids serve as?

A

Storage units for our unique hereditary information

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4
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

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5
Q

Describe DNA.

A
  • Basic hereditary material
  • Stored in the nucleus
  • Contains information necessary to synthesise proteins
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6
Q

What does RNA stand for?

A

Ribonucleic Acid

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7
Q

Describe RNA.

A
  • Exists in several forms
  • Translates information found in DNA
  • Directs the production of proteins in the cytoplasm
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8
Q

What are both DNA and RNA?

A

Polymers of nucleotides; also known as polynucleotides or nucleic acids.

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9
Q

What 3 components are nucleotides made up of?

A
  • Sugar (Ribose / 2-Deoxyribose)
  • Nitrogenous Base
  • Phosphate Group(s)
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10
Q

Name the 5 possible nitrogenous bases.

A
  • Adenine
  • Cytosine
  • Guanine
  • Thymine
  • Uracil
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11
Q

As per nomenclature, what is a nitrogenous base called?

A

Nucleobase

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12
Q

As per nomenclature, what is a Nucleobase + Sugar called?

A

Nucleoside

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13
Q

As per nomenclature, what is a Nucleoside + Phosphate called?

A

Nucleotide

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14
Q

Can nucleotides be cyclic?

A

Yes

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15
Q

How does a nucleobase attach to a sugar?

A

With a β-N-glycosidic link

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16
Q

What 2 types can nucleobases be?

A
  • Pyrimidines

- Purines

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17
Q

What is a pyrimidine?

A

A heterocyclic organic compound consisting of a pyrimidine ring.

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18
Q

Name the 3 pyrimidine bases.

A
  • Cytosine (C)
  • Uracil (U)
  • Thymine (T)
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19
Q

What is a purine?

A

A heterocyclic organic compound consisting of a pyrimidine ring fused to an imidazole ring.

20
Q

Name the 2 purine bases.

A
  • Adenine (A)

- Guanine (G)

21
Q

Name 2 multiphosphorylated nucleotides.

A
  • ATP

- GTP

22
Q

What is NAD+?

A

A co-enzyme in cellular reactions.

23
Q

What is NADP+?

A

The phosphorylated form of NAD+.

24
Q

What do NAD+ and NADP+ do?

A
  • Act as electron acceptors (oxidising agents)

- Are involved in cellular respiration

25
Q

How can cyclic AMP be produced?

A

By the adenylate cyclase enzyme.

26
Q

What is cyclic AMP (cAMP)?

A

An important cell signalling molecule.

27
Q

How is energy released? Provide 3 equations in your explanation.

A

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can be dephosphorylated to release energy.

ATP ⇌ ADP + P
ADP ⇌ AMP + P
ATP ⇌ ADP + PP (Pyrophosphate)

28
Q

Describe GTP.

A
  • Guanine Triphosphate is similar to ATP

- Important in protein synthesis and cell signalling

29
Q

Describe the structure of DNA.

A
  • Polymer made from nucleotides
  • Phosphate on one nucleotide covalently links (phosphodiester bond) to the 2-deoxy ribose sugar on the next nucleotide forming a strong = sugar-phosphate back bone
  • Nitrogenous bases protrude from each sugar unit
  • 2 DNA strands twist around each other, forming a double helix
30
Q

What is significant about 2 DNA strands that form a double helix?

A

2 single DNA strands are complementary to each other in terms of their orientation and their nitrogenous bases

31
Q

Who discovered the structure of DNA, and when?

A
  • Watson and Crick

- 1953

32
Q

Describe 2 features of complementary DNA strands.

A
  • Read 5’ to 3’

- Complementary strands have asymmetric ends

33
Q

What is the base-pair rule?

A

Hydrogen bonds between bases follow the base-pair rule:

  • A binds to T (2 hydrogen bonds)
  • C binds to G (3 hydrogen bonds)
34
Q

What is a gene?

A

A section of DNA which carries the instructions for making proteins.

35
Q

What does the order of bases determine?

A

The order of amino acids in a protein (Genetic Code).

36
Q

What do the proteins determine?

A

Cell structure, function and identity.

37
Q

What is significant about DNA replication?

A

DNA can replicate the genetic code to pass genetic information onto daughter cells.

(Semi-Conservative Replication of DNA)

38
Q

How many chromosomes are in a cell’s nucleus?

A

46 chromosomes

39
Q

Describe the organisation of DNA in the cell.

A

Millions of base pairs in a DNA molecule make up genes on the chromosomes in the nucleus.

1) DNA Helix
2) Histones
3) Nucleosomes
4) Chromatin
5) Chromosome

40
Q

What is a karotype?

A

The number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.

41
Q

Describe the relationship between DNA and RNA.

A
  • DNA serves as the template for the synthesis of the polynucleotide RNA
  • Information contained in the DNA is preserved in the RNA
42
Q

Describe the 3 differences between DNA and RNA.

A
  • Ribose sugar replaces deoxyribose sugar in RNA
  • RNA is single stranded, while DNA is double stranded
  • Uracil (U) replaces Thymine (T) in RNA
43
Q

Describe the 3 types of RNA.

A
  • Messenger RNA (mRNA): Converts the genetic information in DNA into a template that can be used to construct a protein molecule
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA): Helps to transport amino acids that build the polypeptide chain of a protein
  • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): With ribosomal proteins, rRNA makes up the ribosomes, which are organelles that translate the mRNA
44
Q

Describe the structure of a tRNA molecule.

A
  • 3 hairpin loops that form the shape of a three-leafed clover
  • One of these hairpin loops contains a sequence called the anticodon, which can recognize and decode an mRNA codon
  • Each tRNA has its corresponding amino acid attached to its end
45
Q

What does the central dogma state?

A
  • “Once (sequential) information has been passed into a protein, it cannot get out again.” (Crick, 1958)
  • “The central dogma states that the information in nucleic acids can be perpetuated or transferred, but the transfer of information into the protein is irreversible.” (B. Lewin, 2004)
46
Q

Describe the uses of DNA.

A
  • DNA testing for forensic use: Forensic DNA ‘fingerprint’ analysis
  • DNA for medical uses: DNA sequencing, somatic gene therapy
  • DNA for genetic engineering: Genetic engineering to make/change proteins, insulin synthesis
  • Gene editing using CRISPR

CLS4007-B: Biology (Semester 1) (12 decks)

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