Nucleotides

Question 1

Why are nucleotides important?

Answer 1

• They’re the monomers that make up DNA and RNA.

• They can be phosphorylated to form ATP and ADP.

Question 2

What are the 3 parts that make up nucleotides?

Answer 2

• Pentose sugar (sugar with 5 carbon atoms).

• Nitrogenous base.

• Phosphate group.

Question 3

How do you phosphorylate a nucleotide?

Answer 3

You add one or more phosphate groups to it.

Question 4

What does adenosine diphosphate (ADP) contain?

Answer 4

• Adenine (base)

• Ribose (sugar)

• TWO phosphate groups

Question 5

What does adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contain?

Answer 5

• Adenine (base)

• Ribose (sugar)

• THREE phosphate groups

Question 6

How does ADP and ATP work?

Answer 6

• ATP provides energy for chemical reactions in the cell.

• ATP is synthesised from ADP and inorganic phosphate using the energy from an energy-releasing reaction, e.g. the breakdown of glucose in respiration. The ADP is phosphorylated to form ATP, and a phosphate bond is formed.

• Energy is stored in the phosphate bond. When this energy is needed by the cell, ATP is broken back down into ADP and inorganic phosphate. Energy is released from the phosphate bond and used by the cell.