Nucleotide Structure And Function Flashcards
What are the three components of a nucleotide and their function?
Nitrogenous base - information
Five-carbon sugar - structure
Phosphate - energy
What are purines and what two are commonldy found in DNA and RNA?
Nitrogen-containing bases that contain two rings in their structure
Adenine and Guanine
What are pyrimidines and what are the three common ones?
Nitrogen-containing bases that only have one ring in their structure
Cytosine - DNA and RNA
Thymine - DNA
Uracil - RNA
What is the significance of Keto-Enol Tautomerism in nitrogenous bases?
The spontaneous alternation of these two forms alters the H-bonding pattern and could eventually lead to problems.
What are the two pentoses found within nucleic acids?
Ribose (less stable)
2-deoxyribose
How are nucleosides formed and what is the predominant configuration?
Covalently linking a base to the number 1 carbon of a sugar.
Anti configuration is predominant
How are nucleotides formed?
When one or more phosphate groups is attached to the 5’ carbon of the sugar (ribose or deoxyribose).
What are the 7 functions of nucleotides?
- Precursors of Nucleic Acids
- Carriers of energy
- Regulatory signals
- Methyl donor
- Coenzymes
- Carriers of specific building blocks
- Drugs
What is AZT?
Azidothymidine
Anti-HIV drug
