nucleic acids Flashcards
general structure of a nucleotide
- pentose sugar (ribose, deoxyribose)
- phosphate
- organic nitrogenous base
what is a polynucleotide?
and examples
many nucleotide monomers bonded into a chain
in a condensation reaction
e.g. DNA, RNA
what are the 5 nitrogenous bases
adenine
guanine
thymine
cytosine
uracil
what are the purines
adenine
guanine
- two rings
what are the pyrimidines
thymine
cytosine
uracil
- one ring
ATP structure
- nitrogenous base adenine
- ribose sugar
- 3 phosphate groups
how is ATP formed?
in an endergonic reaction
ADP + Pi (inorganic phosphate) combine = ATP + water
energy to combine ADP + Pi comes from exergonic reactions (cell respiration)
how much energy is released when ATP is hydrolysed?and how?
30.6 kJ mol-1
- ATPase hydrolyses bond between 2nd+3rd phosphate
- reversible reaction
- made continuously as ATP can’t be stored in large quantities
why is ATP the universal energy currency in organisms?
- it is a common energy source in reactions
- found in all cells of all organisms
- high energy bonds
- energy released when bonds are hydrolysed
why is ATP better than glucose?
- ATP hydrolysis = single reaction = immediate energy release
- ATP requires 1 enzyme
- ATP releases energy in small amounts, when and where its needed
- ATP is the common energy source for many chemical reactions
what are the roles of ATP?
metabolic processes
active transport
movement
nerve transmission
secretion
role of ATP in metabolic processes
builds large, complex molecules
role of ATP in active transport
changes shape of carrier proteins
allows movement against conc gradient
role of ATP in movement
used for muscle contraction
role of ATP in nerve transmission
used in sodium-potassium pumps
transport across axon membrane
role of ATP in secretion
package into vesicles
DNA structure
- 2 polynucleotide strands, wound in double helix
- strands are antiparallel
- 4 bases
- pentose sugar deoxyribose
- sugar + phosphate form backbone, protecting genetic info
- stable, large = genetic info passed down generations
how are DNA polynucleotide strands antiparallel?
they run in opposite directions but lie parallel to each other
- one runs 5 prime to 3 prime end
- other runs 3 prime to 5 prime end
what is complementary base pairing
baes pair up, hydrogen bonds form between
- A + T = 2 hydrogen bonds
- G + C = 3 hydrogen bonds
RNA structure
- single stranded polynucleotide
- pentose sugar ribose
- 4 bases (uracil not thymine)
mRNA, tRNA, rRNA