Molecular biology 1 - nucleosides and nucleotides Flashcards
Role of nucleotides
- energy currency
- chemical links (second messengers) in cellular response to external stimuli (e.g. hormones)
- Form structure of enzyme cofactors (e.g. NAD) and metabolic intermediates
- form nucleic acids
2 types of nucleic acids
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Functions of nucleic acids
transmit genetic information, protein synthesis
What are the monomers of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)
(ribo/deoxyribo) nucleotides
What components make up a nucleotide?
pentose sugar, phosphate(s), nitrogenous base (nitrogenous, aromatic, heterocyclic ring) - phosphorylated nucleosides
pentose sugar in DNA
deoxyribose
pentose sugar in RNA
ribose
2 types of nitrogenous base
- pyrimidine - monocyclic
- purine (dicyclic ring - pyrimidine ring fused to imidazole ring)
What feature makes each nitrogenous base unique?
The attachment of NH2, CH3, and C=O groups
What are the purine bases?
adenine and guanine
What are the pyrimidine bases?
cytosine, thymine, uracil
Which group is found in adenine?
-NH2
Which group is found in guanine?
-C=O and -NH2
Which group is found in cytosine?
-NH2 (as well as C=O)
Which group is found in uracil?
C=O (2)
Which group is found in thymine?
C=O (2) and -CH3
How are the carbon atoms in the pentose sugar of the nucleotide numbered?
1’ to 5’ clockwise from O atom (prime ‘ indicates that the C atoms are of the sugar not the nitrogenous base)
Difference between ribose and deoxyribose
Attached to C2, ribose has an OH group whereas deoxyribose has a H group.
What components make up a nucleoside (e.g. adenosine)?
nitrogenous base and pentose sugar (linked by N-glycosidic bond)
What bond links the pentose sugar and nitrogenous base in nucleosides/nucleotides?
N-glycosidic bond (beta)
How does the N-glycosidic bond between the nitrogenous base and pentose sugar form?
Between 1’C of pentose sugar and N9 of purine or N1 of pyrimidine ring via a hydrolysis reaction.
Which OH group on the sugar is usually esterified by the addition of a phosphate to form a nucleotide (phosphate ester of nucleoside)?
OH group on 5’C (forms a nucleoside 5’-phosphate)
How are nucleosides named?
nucleoside + 5’ (usually 5’C) + (mono/di/tri) phosphate
Is AMP a ribonucleotide or deoxyribonucleotide?
Ribonucleotide (has OH group on 2’C)
How are the phosphates in a nucleotide named?
first / mono phosphate is alpha, second / di is beta, third / tri is gamma
unabbreviated name of AMP
adenosine 5’-monophosphate (deoxyadenylate)(ribonucleotide)