Lecture 6: Nucleic Acids

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts in the lecture about nucleic acids.

Anticodon

It’s a three nucleotides connection mRNA and tRNA

What are Nucleobases?

They are nitrogen-rich heterocycles (based on purine or pyrimidine) that are building blocks of nucleic acids.

What are Nucleosides?

They are Molecules that have a sugar linked to a nucleobase

What are Nucleotides?

They are molecules that consist of a nucleobase, a sugar, and one or more phosphate group.

How does RNA and DNA differ?

RNA has one more OH on the sugar compared to DNA

What is Helicase?

It’s An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during replication process

What is DNA polymerase?

It’s an enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides during replication process

WHat is DNA primase?

It’s an enzyme that synthesizes short RNA primers for starting DNA synthesis.

What is Topoisomerase?

It’s an enzyme that manages DNA supercoiling and structure during replication process

What is messenger RNA (mRNA)?

The form of RNA that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

What is transfer RNA (tRNA)?

It’s a molecule that transports amino acids to the ribosome during translation.

What is Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)?

It’s The primary energy currency of cells, involved in many biochemical reactions.

Uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-glucose)?

It’s a nucleotide sugar that is used in the transfers of glucose.

WHat does S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) do?

It transfer methyl groups and acts as radical initiator?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A self-replicating material that carries genetic information in living organisms (Is made of adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine)

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A molecule essential for various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes (Is made of adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil)

What is 5' end?

It’s the end of a DNA or RNA strand that has a free phosphate group.

What is 3' end?

It’s the end of a DNA or RNA strand that has a free hydroxyl group.

What effects hydrogen bonding pattern has?

They determine how nucleobases interact

What is Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)?

It’s a method used to rapidly make copies of specific DNA segments.

What is Denaturation?

It’s a step in PCR process where DNA is heated to separate the strands.

What is Annealing?

It’s a step in PCR where primers bind themself to single-stranded DNA.

What are minor groove binders?

Molecules that attach to the minor groove of DNA, thus impacting gene expression.