Nucleic acids revision Flashcards
Func of nucleic acids
Informational macromolecules for the storage and retrieval of information regarding the primary sequence of polypeptides
2 types of nucleic acids
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid
RNA - Ribonucleic acid
What is the structure of nucleotides
- Pentose sugar - ribose or deoxyribose
- Nitrogenous base
- Phosphate - mono, di or tri
What are Purines?
Two ring-shaped structures joined together -adenine and guanine
What are Pyrimidines?
A single ring - cytosine and thymine (uracil)
Be able to draw nucleotide structure.
What is a combination of a base and a sugar called?
A nucleoside
adenine + ribose = adenosine
adenine + deoxyribose = deoxyadenosine
Name a ribose, adenine and 2 phosphates added together
Adenosine diphosphate
How to tell the difference between ribose and deoxyribose
Deoxyribose contains one less oxygen molecule
How does a nucleic acid polymer form?
The phosphate of one nucleotide binds with the hydroxyl group (at carbon 3) of another releasing water and forming a phosphodiester bond.
What is the backbone of a polynucleotide (strand) made of?
sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate
How do the strands run in DNA?
Antiparallel configuration
How many bonds do adenine and thymine have?
2
How many bonds do guanine and cytosine have?
3
Why is ATP a high energy molecule?
Because the last 2 phosphate bonds are unstable and easily broken.
