Applied Human Biology I - Nucleic Acids 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering DNA and RNA structures, nucleotide components, purines and pyrimidines, strand directionality, and ATP.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers composed of nucleotide monomers that store biological information, contain instructions for essential life activities, and conduct chemical reactions.

Nucleotide

The structural monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a 5-carbon pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A double-stranded nucleic acid that stores information for its own replication and specifies the sequence of amino acids in proteins.

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

A nucleic acid, typically single-stranded, involved in protein synthesis, enzyme regulation, and acting as components of coenzymes.

Purines

Nitrogenous bases containing a double-ring structure, specifically Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

Pyrimidines

Nitrogenous bases containing a single-ring structure, specifically Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) in DNA, and Uracil (U) in RNA.

Deoxyribose

The 5-carbon pentose sugar found in DNA nucleotides that has an $-H$ group attached to its $2'$ carbon.

Ribose

The 5-carbon pentose sugar found in RNA nucleotides that has an $-OH$ group attached to its $2'$ carbon.

Antiparallel Strands

The structural alignment of double-stranded DNA where one strand runs in the $5'$ to $3'$ direction while the complementary strand runs in the $3'$ to $5'$ direction.

Complementary Base Pairing

The specific hydrogen bonding between nitrogenous bases across nucleic acid strands, where Adenine pairs with Thymine (or Uracil) and Cytosine pairs with Guanine.

Phosphodiester Bonds

Chemical bonds connecting ribose or deoxyribose sugars between the $5'$ and $3'$ carbon positions to form the backbone of a nucleic acid strand.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A high-energy nucleotide molecule that serves as a cellular energy carrier, releasing energy when the bond between its second and third phosphate groups is broken.

Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP)

The molecule formed when ATP loses its terminal phosphate group during energy release, which can be recycled back into ATP by reattaching a phosphate.

RNA Secondary Structure

The structural fold formed in RNA when bases within a single strand pair with each other via hydrogen bonding.

RNA Tertiary Structure

The three-dimensional folded shape of RNA consisting of helices and grooves resulting from RNA folding.