CH2 CHEM PT 6 - Nucleic Acids and ATP Vocabulary flashcards -

Vocabulary flashcards covering DNA and RNA structure, nucleotides, base pairing, triplets, mutations, hemoglobin, and ATP/cellular respiration concepts.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; double-stranded molecule with a sugar–phosphate backbone that forms a double helix and stores genetic code used to direct protein synthesis.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; typically single-stranded; sugar is ribose; contains uracil instead of thymine; carrier of genetic information from DNA to protein synthesis machinery.

Nucleotide

The basic unit of nucleic acids, composed of a sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Phosphate backbone

The alternating sugar–phosphate chains that form the sides of the DNA ladder (the backbone of the molecule).

Deoxyribose

The sugar component of DNA (no extra oxygen, hence 'deoxy').

Nitrogen bases (A, T, C, G)

The four bases in DNA: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine; pair A with T and C with G.

Uracil

RNA base that replaces thymine in RNA and pairs with adenine.

Triplet

Three consecutive nitrogen bases in DNA that code for a single amino acid.

Amino acid

Building blocks of proteins; 20 standard amino acids encoded by DNA triplets.

Protein

Polymer of amino acids; its primary structure and folding determine function.

Primary structure

The linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Dehydration synthesis

Chemical reaction that links amino acids together to form peptide bonds in protein synthesis.

Central dogma

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into a protein; flow of genetic information.

Mutation

Change in a DNA base that can alter amino acid sequence and protein function; can have disease consequences.

Sickle cell anemia

Genetic disease caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene, altering its structure and red blood cell shape under low oxygen.

Hemoglobin

Oxygen-carrying protein with quaternary structure; composed of multiple protein chains; affected by mutations.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; the cell’s usable energy currency, consisting of adenosine + three phosphates.

Triphosphate

Three phosphate groups attached to adenosine in ATP.

High-energy bond (in ATP)

The bond between the last two phosphates; breaking it releases energy used for cellular work.

ATPase

Enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate, releasing energy.

Hydrolysis

Reaction with water that breaks a bond, such as ATP to ADP + P, releasing energy.

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate; product of ATP hydrolysis that can be re-energized to ATP.

Cellular respiration

Process that breaks down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.

Glucose

Monosaccharide energy source; energy stored in bonds and converted to ATP via cellular respiration.

Oxygen

Gas required for cellular respiration; enables efficient energy extraction from glucose.

36–38 ATP

Approximate yield of ATP produced from one molecule of glucose during cellular respiration.