Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

biology > nucleic acid > Flashcards

nucleic acid Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what are nucleic acids

A

Nucleic Acids

  • Organisms store protein structure information in macromolecules known as nucleic acids
  • This information is passed onto daughter cells during cell division
  • Nucleic acids serve as storage units for our unique hereditary information
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what does DNA and RNA stand for?

A

DNA
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

RNA
RiboNucleic Acid

Both are polymers of nucleotides, also known as polynucleotides or nucleic acids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is DNA

A
  • Basic hereditary material in the nucleus

* Contains information necessary to make proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is RNA

A
  • Exists in several forms
  • Translates the information found in DNA
  • Directs the production of proteins in the cytoplasm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Nucleotide structure

A

A nucleotide is made up of 3 building blocks:

  • Sugar (ribose or 2-deoxy ribose)
  • Nitrogenous base
  • Phosphate group(s)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what are these called when combined together:

Nitrogenous base

Nucleobase + sugar

Nucleoside+phosphate

A

nucleobase
nucleoside
nucleotide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

how do you name nucleotide with phosphate groups attached

A
  • Usually named after the nucleobase
  • Additional phosphates can be present
  • Nucleotide diphosphate
  • Nucleotide triphosphate

• Nucleotides can be cyclic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what bond is present to create a nucleoside from the nucleobase and sugar ribose?

A

• Attach to a sugar with a
β-N-glycosidic link to form
a nucleoside

• Adenosine is formed from
the nucleobase adenine
and the sugar ribose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Pyrimidine Nucleobases

A

• Heterocyclic organic compounds consisting of a pyrimidine ring

one ring: cytosine, thymine, uracil.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

purine nucleobases

A

• Heterocyclic organic compounds consisting of a pyrimidine ring fused to an imidazole ring

example:adenine and guanine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

where is aldopentose sugar ribose is found in?

A
  • Multiphosphorylated nucleotides
  • ATP
  • GTP
  • Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+)
  • DNA (in deoxy form)
  • RNA
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

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

write three equations representing this

A

ATP  ADP + P
ADP  AMP + P
ATP  AMP + PP (pyrophosphate)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what enzymes is used to produce Cyclic AMP and why is it important?

A

Cyclic AMP can be produced by adenylate cyclase

cAMP is an important cell signalling molecule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is GTP and why is it important?

A
  • Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is similar to ATP

* Important in protein synthesis and cell signalling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide?

A
  • NAD+ is a co-enzyme in cellular reactions
  • NADP+ is the phosphorylated form
  • Act as electron acceptors (oxidating agents)
  • Involved in cellular respiration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

how is a suger-phosphate backbone formed

A

• Phosphate on one nucleotide covalently links (phosphodiester bond) to the 2-deoxy ribose sugar on the next nucleotide forming a strand (sugar-phosphate backbone)

17
Q

structure of DNA

A
  • Nitrogenous bases protrude from each sugar unit
  • Two strands twist around each other forming a double helix
  • Structure discovered by Watson & Crick in 1953
  • Other natural helices include the tendrils of climbing plants
18
Q

DNA consists of two single strands, complementary to each other in terms of their orientation and their nitrogenous bases

why are the strands antiparallel

A
  • Strands are read 5’ to 3’

* Complementary strands have asymmetric ends

19
Q

• Hydrogen bonds between bases follow the base-pair rule.

how many hydrogen between base pairs?

A

A and T (2 hydrogen bonds)

G and C (3 hydrogen bonds)

20
Q

What are genes?

A
  • Genes are portions of DNA
  • Genes carry the instructions for making proteins
  • The order of bases determines the order of amino acids in the protein (genetic code)
21
Q

why are protein important?

A

Proteins determine cell structure, function and identity

22
Q

how is information passed on to daughter cells

A

• DNA can replicate the genetic code to pass genetic information on to daughter cells(Semi-conservative replication)

23
Q

where is the Genetic Code found

A

• Millions of base pairs in the DNA molecule make up genes on the chromosomes in the nucleus (e.g. chromosome 1 contains 220 million base pairs)

24
Q

DNA in molecular biology

what can DNA be used for?

A

•DNA testing for forensic use : Forensic DNA ‘fingerprint’ analysis

• For medical use: DNA sequencing and somatic gene therapy
(gene therapy using an adenovirus vector)

Genetic engineering to make or change proteins: For example insulin

25
Q

RNA

A
  • DNA serves as the template for the synthesis of the polynucleotide RNA
  • RNA is similar to DNA, except
  • Uracil (U) replaces thymine (T)
  • Ribose sugar replaces deoxyribose
  • Single strand
26
Q

what are the types of RNA? present in cells

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 the amino acids that build the polypeptide chain of a protein
27
Q

Central Dogma

A

The central dogma of molecular biology deals with the detailed residue-by-residue transfer of sequential information. It states that such information cannot be transferred from protein to either protein or nucleic acid

biology (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions