What is the basic structure of nucleic acids?
Basic structure Nucleic acids are polynucleotides—that is, long chainlike molecules composed of a series of nearly identical building blocks called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogen-containing aromatic base attached to a pentose (five-carbon) sugar, which is in turn attached to a phosphate group.
What are the 3 parts of the nucleic acid structure?
Now let's consider the structure of the two types of nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The building blocks of DNA are nucleotides, which are made up of three parts: a deoxyribose (5-carbon sugar), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (Figure 9.3).
How do you draw the structure of a nucleic acid?
0:036:56DNA/RNA Structure - How to Draw Nucleic Acids - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd RNA structure specifically how to draw nucleic acids the new tunity nucleic acids that we'veMoreAnd RNA structure specifically how to draw nucleic acids the new tunity nucleic acids that we've learned about our DNA and RNA. So we've talked previously.
What is the structure of a nucleotides?
A nucleotide is made up of three parts: a phosphate group, a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. The four nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.
How do you draw and label a nucleotide?
0:000:57Draw and label a Nucleotide | A Level Biology - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNucleotides and polynucleotides. And after watching this a few times you should be able to draw theMoreNucleotides and polynucleotides. And after watching this a few times you should be able to draw the structure of a nucleotide. So here is our nucleotide structure and in the center.
What does a nucleic acid look like?
1:282:32What are Nucleic Acids? Nucleic Acid Structure & Function - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe phosphate of nucleic acids bond together to form long poly nucleotide chains like RNA and DNA.MoreThe phosphate of nucleic acids bond together to form long poly nucleotide chains like RNA and DNA. The nitrogenous bases can form weaker hydrogen bonds as they do between two strands of DNA.
What is the structure and function of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), carry genetic information which is read in cells to make the RNA and proteins by which living things function. The well-known structure of the DNA double helix allows this information to be copied and passed on to the next generation.
What is the structure and function of nucleotides?
Each nucleotide contains a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and at least one phosphate group. When bonded together, nucleotides create nucleic acid, that is, the "strings" of DNA. Nucleotides can also stand independently and interact with cells in other ways.
What is the sequence of nucleic acid?
A nucleic acid sequence is a succession of bases signified by a series of a set of five different letters that indicate the order of nucleotides forming alleles within a DNA (using GACT) or RNA (GACU) molecule. By convention, sequences are usually presented from the 5' end to the 3' end.
How are nucleic acids formed?
Nucleic acids are formed when nucleotides come together through phosphodiester linkages between the 5' and 3' carbon atoms. A nucleic acid sequence is the order of nucleotides within a DNA (GACT) or RNA (GACU) molecule that is determined by a series of letters. Sequences are presented from the 5' to 3' end and determine the covalent structure ...
What is the quaternary structure of nucleic acids?
Although some of the concepts are not exactly the same, the quaternary structure refers to a higher-level of organization of nucleic acids. Moreover, it refers to interactions of the nucleic acids with other molecules. The most commonly seen form of higher-level organization of nucleic acids is seen in the form of chromatin which leads to its interactions with the small proteins histones. Also, the quaternary structure refers to the interactions between separate RNA units in the ribosome or spliceosome.
What is the function of pseudoknots?
This causes formation of pseudoknots with two stems and two loops. Pseudoknots are functional elements in RNA structure having diverse function and found in most classes of RNA. Secondary structure of RNA can be predicted by experimental data on the secondary structure elements, helices, loops, and bulges.
What is the bond between a phosphate and a sugar?
For both the purine and pyrimidine bases, the phosphate group forms a bond with the deoxyribose sugar through an ester bond between one of its negatively charged oxygen groups and the 5' -OH of the sugar. The polarity in DNA and RNA is derived from the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the backbone.
What is the sugar in DNA?
5-carbon sugar which is called deoxyribose (found in DNA) and ribose (found in RNA). One or more phosphate groups. The nitrogen bases adenine and guanine are purine in structure and form a glycosidic bond between their 9 nitrogen and the 1' -OH group of the deoxyribose.
What is the most common element of RNA secondary structure?
Bulges and internal loops are formed by separation of the double helical tract on either one strand (bulge) or on both strands (internal loops) by unpaired nucleotides. Stem-loop or hairpin loop is the most common element of RNA secondary structure.
What is the most common element in RNA?
Stem-loop or hairpin loop is the most common element of RNA secondary structure. Stem-loop is formed when the RNA chains fold back on themselves to form a double helical tract called the 'stem', the unpaired nucleotides forms single stranded region called the 'loop'.
What does nucleic acid structure mean?
“Nucleic acid structure” can mean something as simple as the sequence of nucleotides in a piece of DNA. Or, it could mean something as complex as the way that DNA molecule folds and how it interacts with other molecules.
What is the primary structure of nucleic acids?
The primary structure of the nucleic acid refers to the sequence of its nucleotide bases, and the way these are covalently bonded to each other. The sequence of “letters” in a strand of DNA or RNA, then, is part of its primary structure, as is the helical or double-helical shape.
What are the two types of nucleic acids?
There are two types of nucleic acid: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Both play a central role in every function of every living organism. Nucleic acids have similar basic structures with important differences. They are composed of monomer nucleotides connected like links in a chain to form nucleic acid polymers. Nucleotides consist of a nucleoside (the combination of a pentose monosaccharide molecule and a nitrogenous base) and a phosphate group. The difference between RNA and DNA lies in a single nitrogenous base and a single atom of oxygen within a sugar molecule.
What are the two strands of DNA?
These are naturally occurring compounds which give each nucleotide its name, and are divided into two groups – pyrimidines and purines. While the pyrimidines cytosine, thymine and uracil (see RNA) are small, single-ringed constructions, adenine, and guanine are larger and double-ringed. This difference in shape and size and a subsequent difference in electrical charge is important, as it allows only specific complementary pairings between different group types; in DNA, adenine will only bond with thymine and cytosine will only bond with guanine. This creates nitrogenous base spindles of the same length and a mirror image on the opposite strand.
What is secondary structure?
Secondary structure refers to how nucleotide bases hydrogen bond with each other, and what shape this creates out of their two strands.#N#The hydrogen bonds that form between complementary bases of two nucleic acid strands are quite different from the covalent bond that forms between sister monomers in a nucleic acid strand.
What are the two components of a nucleotide?
Nucleotides – the building blocks of nucleic acids, and the “letters” of the genetic “code” – are made of two components: A nitrogenous base such as adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine or uracil.
What is the structure that occurs when a single RNA molecule folds back and hydrogen bonds with itself?
Other structures are also possible, such as a “stem-loop” – which occurs when a single RNA molecule folds back and hydrogen bonds with itself – or a four-armed structure that can occur when four different strands of nucleic acid hydrogen bond with different parts of each other.
What are the two main functions of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids constitute another important group of biological macromolecules present in all types of organisms where they function mainly as store-house of genetic information and as information- transfer molecules.
What are the different types of nucleotides?
The nitrogenous bases are generally of five types. These are adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil.
What is the name of the pyrimidines that have a single heterocyclic ring?
Cytosine, thymine and uracil are pyrimidine’s having a single six-membered heterocyclic ring. When one of these nucleic acid bases combines with a pentose sugar, a nucleoside is formed. A combination of a nucleoside with a phosphoric acid results in a nucleotide. Nucleic acids are long chains of nucleotides.
What are sugars attached to?
The sugars are attached to the bases — adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine through the Cl / atom. The two polynucleotide strands form a twisted ladder-like structure of which the rungs are represented by pairs of nucleic acid bases. Each pair consists of a purine and a pyrimidine.
How many ester bonds are there in phosphoric acid?
Each phosphoric acid molecule forms two ester bonds, one with the 3-OH group of one ribose or deoxyribose of a nucleoside and the other with the 5′-OH group of ribose or deoxyribose of another nucleoside.
What are the three types of RNA?
There are three major types of RNA in all cellular organisms. These are ribosomal RNA (r-RNA), messenger RNA (m-RNA), and transfer RNA (t-RNA). More than 80% of an organism’s total RNA is in the form of r-RNA. Ribosomes are cytoplasmic particulate bodies consisting of RNA and protein.
How many ribosomes are in a prokaryotic cell?
Ribosomes of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells differ in size and constitution. Ribosomal RNA of prokaryotes has three components — 5S, 16S and 23S (S stands for sedimentation coefficient in Svedberg units). A prokaryotic ribosome consists of two units, a smaller 30S unit and a larger 50S unit.
What is a nucleic acid?
Typically, a nucleic acid is a large molecule made up of a string, or “polymer,” of units called “ nucleotides .”. All life on Earth uses nucleic acids as their medium for recording hereditary information – that is nucleic acids are the hard drives containing the essential blueprint or “source code” for making cells.
Where are nucleic acids found?
Nucleic acids have been found in meteorites from space, proving that these complex molecules can be formed by natural causes even in environments where there is no life. Some scientists have even suggested that such meteorites may have helped create the first self-replicating nucleic acid “life” on Earth.
How do nucleic acids differ?
Generally speaking, nucleic acids themselves differ in every organism based on the sequence of nucleotides within the nucleic acid. This sequence is “read” by cellular machinery to connect amino acids in the correct sequence, building complex protein molecules with specific functions.
How do nucleic acids store information?
Nucleic Acids Store Information Like Computer Code. By far the most important function of nucleic acids for living things is their role as carriers of information. Because nucleic acids can be created with four “bases,” and because “base pairing rules” allow information to be “copied” by using one strand of nucleic acids as a template ...
What is the name of the chain of nucleotides that stores genetic information?
A nucleic acid is a chain of nucleotides which stores genetic information in biological systems. It creates DNA and RNA, which store the information needed by cells to create proteins. This information is stored in multiple sets of three nucleotides, known as codons.
Why are scientists using nucleic acids?
In fact, scientists are using these molecules to build the basis of an “artificial life form”, which could maintain the artificial nucleic acid and extract information from it to build new proteins and survive. Generally speaking, nucleic acids themselves differ in every organism based on the sequence of nucleotides within the nucleic acid.
Why is DNA important to a cell?
Because the DNA source code is just as vital to a cell as your operating system is to your computer, DNA must be protected from potential damage. To transport DNA’s instructions to other parts of the cell, copies of its information are made using another type of nucleic acid – RNA. It’s these RNA copies of genetic information which are sent out ...
Overview
Secondary structure
Secondary structure is the set of interactions between bases, i.e., which parts of strands are bound to each other. In DNA double helix, the two strands of DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds. The nucleotides on one strand base pairs with the nucleotide on the other strand. The secondary structure is responsible for the shape that the nucleic acid assumes. The bases in the DNA are classifi…
Primary structure
Primary structure consists of a linear sequence of nucleotides that are linked together by phosphodiester bond. It is this linear sequence of nucleotides that make up the primary structure of DNA or RNA. Nucleotides consist of 3 components:
1. Nitrogenous base
Tertiary structure
Tertiary structure refers to the locations of the atoms in three-dimensional space, taking into consideration geometrical and steric constraints. It is a higher order than the secondary structure, in which large-scale folding in a linear polymer occurs and the entire chain is folded into a specific 3-dimensional shape. There are 4 areas in which the structural forms of DNA can differ.
Quaternary structure
The quaternary structure of nucleic acids is similar to that of protein quaternary structure. Although some of the concepts are not exactly the same, the quaternary structure refers to a higher-level of organization of nucleic acids. Moreover, it refers to interactions of the nucleic acids with other molecules. The most commonly seen form of higher-level organization of nucleic acids is seen in the form of chromatin which leads to its interactions with the small proteins histones. …
See also
• Biomolecular structure
• Crosslinking of DNA
• DNA nanotechnology
• DNA supercoil
• Gene structure