Nucleic Acids

Watson and Crick

Used Franklin’s photo 51 and Chargaffs Rule to discover anti-parallel structure of DNA

Pathway for protein synthesis

Nucleus (mRNA synth)—> cytoplasm—>Ribosome (protein synth)

DNA codes for…

amino acid sequence

Gene expression

results in protein synthesis

DNA vs RNA

2’ hydroxyl vs hydrogen, T or U, single vs double stranded

Between RNA and DNA which is more unstable and why?

RNA is more unstable due to the oxygen, it is more reactive. Also the stability of DNA helps it function as a storer of genetic information.

Chromosomes

many genes and proteins bundled

purines

A and G, double ring

pyrimidines

T, U, and C, single ring

parts of a nucleic acid

1-3 5’ phosphate groups (for backbone), nitrogenous base, pentose sugar

Features of DNA

backbone is just alertnating phosphate and sugar via phospheter linkage. DNA is antiparallel and is read from 5’ to 3’

Base pairs are connected by _____ between…

hydrogen bonds;A-T and G-C

Other IMF/bonds in nucleic acids

van der waals between base pairs,

Other functions of nucleotides

ATP, coenzymes, and cAMP (cell signalling)