Nucleic Acids, ATP, Water and Inorganic Ions (SR) Flashcards
What are the two examples of polynucleotides?
1) DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
2) RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
What does a Nucleotide consist of?
Phosphate Group
Pentose Sugar (Ribose for RNA, Deoxyribose for DNA)
Organic/Nitrogenous Base
What are the differences between DNA and RNA?
1) DNA has two anti-parallel strands, RNA has one strand
2) DNA is very long, RNA is short
3) DNA has Deoxyribose, RNA has Ribose sugar
4) DNA - Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine and Guanine. RNA - All same but Uracil instead of Thymine
5) DNA Stores Genetic Info, RNA Transfers Genetic Info and forms Ribosomes w/proteins
What are Polynucleotides?
Polymers made up of many nucleotide monomers
Joined together by series of Condensation Reactions
Forming Phosphodiester Bonds
What type of Bond holds together strands of DNA (between Complementary bases) and how many?
Hydrogen Bonds
2 between A & T
3 between C & G
What is Semi-Conservative Replication?
Method in which DNA is replicated
Creating 2 molecules of DNA that consist of one original DNA and one new strand
What occurs in Semi-Conservative Replication?
1) DNA Helicase breaks H-Bonds b/w the 2 strands
2) Free Nucleotides complementary base pair to the exposed strand
3) DNA Polymerase catalyses condensation reactions to join adjacent nucleotides, forming Phosphodiester bonds
What is the structure of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)?
1) 3 Phosphate Groups
2) Ribose Sugar
3) Adenine
What happens when Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is converted into Adenosine Disphophate (ADP)?
Hydrolysis Reaction
ATP Hydrolase
Releases Energy
What happens when Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) is converted into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)?
Condensation Reaction
ATP Synthase
Requires Energy
When does Condensation of ADP occur?
During Respiration and Photosynthesis
When can Hydrolysis of ATP do?
Can be coupled to energy-requiring reactions and used to Phosphorylate Compounds
What are Inorganic Ions?
Atoms or molecules with an electric charge, containing NO Carbon
What are Cations?
Positively Charged Ions
What are Anions?
Negatively Charged Ions
Where do Inorganic Ions occur?
In solution in the Cytoplasm and Body Fluids of Organisms
Some in high concs. and others in very low concs.
What role do Hydrogen Ions have?
Determine pH of bodily fluids
Higher the conc., lower the pH
What role do Iron ions have?
Essential component of prosthetic group of Haemoglobin and bind to Oxygen
What role do Sodium ions have?
Used in co-transport of Glucose and Amino Acids
Across Cell Membranes
What role do Phosphate ions have?
Essential component of DNA, RNA & ATP
What do Water molecules consist of?
2 Hydrogen Molecules
Covalently bonded to an Oxygen molecule
Why are water molecules slightly polar?
Oxygen nucleus pulls shared electrons away from hydrogen nuclei
Giving Oxygen nuclei 𝛿- charge, and Hydrogen Nuclei 𝛿+ charge
What does the polarity of water cause?
Causes attraction between water molecules
Force of attraction is called a H-Bond (Hydrogen Bond)
How is Liquid Medium a useful property of Water? (1/9)
Provides habitats for aquatic organisms
Medium for chemical reactions
Used for Transport
How is water being an Important Metabolite useful? (2/9)
Used in Hydrolysis and Condensation Reactions
How is water having a High Specific Heat Capacity useful? (3/9)
Keeps Aquatic and Cellular environments stable
How is water having a high latent heat of vaporisation useful? (4/9)
Evaporation has cooling effect on organisms
How is cohesion of molecules useful for water? (5/9)
Water is drawn up the Xylem
How is water having surface tension useful? (6/9)
Allows pond-skaters (and Jesus) to walk on the surface
How is water being a good solvent and transport medium useful? (7/9)
Dissolves ionic and polar molecules
Allowing them to be easily transported
How is water being a good reaction medium useful? (8/9)
Cytoplasm in cells is an aqueous solution
Where many chemical reactions occur
How is water being Incompressible useful? (9/9)
Can prevent plants from wilting
Act as a hydrostatic skeleton for invertebrates
