Nucleic Acids Flashcards
Describe nucleic acids.π
- two types: DNA + RNA
- have roles in storage + transfer of genetic info, + synthesis of polypeptides (proteins)
- basis for heredity
- made up of the monomers: nucleotides
Describe the structure of nucleotides.π
- linked together in chains
- each made of three components: pentose sugar w/ 5 C atoms, phosphate group, + nitrogenous base
(In DNA the sugar is deoxyribose + in RNA it is ribose).
Name the nitrogenous bases, and identify which are purines and which are pyrimidines for DNA.π
Adenine
Guanine
Thymine
Cytosine
Purines: adenine + guanine
Pyrimidines: thymine + cytosine
(Remember by Y in pyrimidines matches with Ys in thymine + cytosine, so they are pyrimidines).
Describe DNA and its structure.π
- made of 2 polynucleotide chains running in anti parallel directions
- 2 chains held together by H bonds between base pairs (A + T or C + G), like rungs of a ladder, each strand has 5β (prime) phosphate group at one end + 3β (prime) hydroxyl group at other
- has double helix structure
- has sugar phosphate backbone held together by phosphodiester bonds
- confined to nucleus.
Describe the base pairing rules that hold the two polynucleotide strands of DNAβs structure together.π
- A bonds with T: by 2 hydrogen bonds
- C bonds with G: by 3 hydrogen bonds
- this known as complimentary base pairing
- these rules mean a small pyrimidine base always bonds to larger purine base to maintain constant distance between DNA backbones, resulting in parallel polynucleotide chains
Describe DNA in Euakaryotic cells.
- most DNA held in nucleus (genome)
- also have loop of DNA in mitochondria + chloroplasts
- DNA tightly wound around histone proteins into chromosomes
Describe DNA in Prokaryotic cells.
- DNA in a loop in cytoplasm (nucleoid)
- also contain plasmids
- not associated w/ histones - it is βnakedβ
Describe DNA in viruses.
- a loop of βnakedβ DNA
Describe the process of the synthesis and breakdown of polynucleotides by the formation and breakage of phosphodiester bonds (DNA replication). (SEMI CONSERVATIVE)π
- DNA molecule unwinds, catalysed by gyrase enzyme
- DNA molecule unzips as H bonds between nucleotide bases are broken, catalysed by DNA Helicase, resulting in 2 single strands of DNA w/ exposed nucleotide bases
- free phosphorylated nucleotides in nucleoplasm are bonded to exposed bases
- DNA polymerase catalyses addition of new nucleotide bases to single DNA strands in 5β to 3β direction, using each single strand as a template
- hydrolysis of activated nucleotides, to release extra phosphate groups, supplies energy to complete new molecule by making phosphodiester bonds between deoxyribose sugar of one nucleotide and phosphate group of the next nucleotide
- leading strand is synthesised continuously, but lagging strand is synthesised discontinuously in okazaki fragments, these later joined, catalysed by Ligase enzymes
- product of replication is 2 DNA molecules, identical to each other + to parent molecule
Describe a practical experiment into the purification of DNA by precipitation.π
- swish sports drink around in mouth vigorously for 2 mins, also scrape inside of cheeks w/ teeth gently to collect cheek cells in drink
- spit sports drink + cheek cell solution back into small paper cup, pour into test tube until about one-third full
- add washing up liquid to container (this breaks down fats in plasma membranes) until half full, place bung on + mix gently but avoid causing bubbles from soap
- add a few drops of pineapple juice (to breakdown cells within enzymes) repeat gentle mixing
- trickle a small amount of ethanol into test tube (to precipitate out DNA so you can see it) so alcohol forms a floating layer on top of solution
- set test tube aside for one min
- put a skewer gently into test tube sotip touches band of white gooey material suspended between layers you should see
- carefully twirl skewer (as DNA has double helix structure) in one direction only, so material winds around so can lift it out through alcohol layer to look more closely
Describe ADP and ATP.π
- phosphorylated nucleotides
- ADP (adenosine diphosphate) contains base: adenine, sugar: ribose + 2 phosphate groups
- ATP (adenosine triphosphate) contains base: adenine, sugar: ribose + 3 phosphate group
Describe the use of ATP.π
- Provides energy for chemical reactions in cell
- Synthesised from ADP
- ADP phosphorylated to form ATP + phosphate bond is formed, which stores energy
- When this energy needed by a cell, ATP broken back down into ADP + inorganic phosphate
- energy then released from phosphate bond + used by cell.
Describe the function of DNA.π
Storage of genetic information
Describe the function of RNA.π
Transfer of genetic information from DNA to proteins that make enzymes + tissues in body
- protein synthesis
Identify which bases are Purines and which are Pyrimidines for RNA.π
Purines: Adenine + Guanine
Pyrimidines: Uracil + Cytosine
State the number of nucleotides in DNA and RNA, roughly.
DNA: up to 300,000,000
RNA: around 300
DNA is a double helix structure with two strands but RNAβ¦π
Only has one strand.
Describe RNA generally.π
3 diff types:
- mRNA
- tRNA
- rRNA
- can be inside + out of nucleus.
What are the different possible DNA replication models?
- Semiconservative:
actual real model, 2 strands both made of 50% parental 50% new, each split into 2 more strands (so 4 more), one 50 50 of both, + one of complete new strand, so overtime parental strand dilutes - Conservative model:
not actual model, starts 2 strands, one complete parental + one new, new splits into 2 more new, parental splits into 1 parental 1 new, so overtime parental strand dilutes - Dispersive model:
not actual model, starts 2 strands both 50 50 parental + new, both split into 2 more 50 50 strands, so 4 more 50 50s in total
Describe a gene.π
A length of DNA that codes for a particular protein or polypeptide.
How is DNA read in terms of its code.
DNA is a triplet code.
Read in groups of three bases.
Each triplet is called a codon
1 codon = 1 amino acid.
Describe the genetic code.π
- triplet code
- non overlapping, so each gene has fixed stating point + is read in groups of three bases
- each base part of only one codon
- unambiguous: each codon can only code for one specific amino acid
- degenerate: each amino acid can be coded for by at least one, often multiple codons
- almost universal: almost all organisms on Earth use same code.
Describe the start and stop codes for mRNA.
- every mRNA gene starts with an AUG codon.
- START codon: all genes start w/ same codon to produce amino acid methionine.
- STOP codon: all genes end in one of three STOP codons, these not associated w/ the amino acid.
How do you use the codon wheel to decode a codon.π
- find first letter of your sequence in the inner circle + work outwards to see corresponding amino acid.