Nucleic Acids and DNA Replication Flashcards
What are the 3 Components of DNA & RNA?
Nitrogenous Base
Pentose Sugar
Phosphate group
What are the Nitrogenous bases in DNA/RNA?
Pyrimidine - CTU
Purine - GA
What does the Phosphate group do?
Act as a bridge between adjacent ribose/deoxyribose groups
What does ATP consist of?
3 phosphate groups, ribose and adenine
How is a DNA helix held together by?
Base Pairing
C with G
T with A
When does A-U bonding (RNA) occur?
Transcription
What is the Structural feature of a DNA double helix?
Hydrophobic in centre away from water and Hydrophilic on the outer
How are Hydrophobic bases in DNA stabilised?
H-bonding between bases on complimentary strands
How are Hydrophilic bases in DNA stabilised?
Sugar-phosphate backbone stabilised by electrostatic and H-bonding with water
What kind of Interactions to stacked bases have?
Weak transient electrostatic interactions (van der waals)
What are RNA structural features?
Single-stranded RNA adopt secondary structures through base pairing
What is the difference between nucleotides in DNA/RNA polymers?
Base on individual units
What is the Polymer described by?
Sequence and number of bases
What are nucleic acids defined by?
Size and direction
Where are Nucleotides always added in a polynucleotide chain?
3’- end
How is a 3’-5’ phosphodiester bond formed?
a-phosphate of new nucleotide reacts with 3’-OH group of polymer
What direction does the chain grow?
5’-3’ direction. always
What is always at the start of a Nucleic acid chain?
5’ Phosphate at the start and terminates with a 3’ OH
Where is DNA in a Eukaryotic cell?
Nucleus and helps to compact
What is Chromatin?
Histone-bound DNA
What is a Nucleosome?
Basic unit of compacted DNA
What is the Core particle of a Nucleosome consist of?
Octamer with 2 copies of 4 Histone proteins (H2A,H2B,H3,H4)
What does core DNA consist of?
146 BP which wraps around histone core
What does a Chromosome contain during replication?
2 chromatids linked by a centromere
What does each Chromatid contain?
1 single DNA molecule compacted as chromatosomes