Nucleic Acids

DNA full name

deoxyribonucleic acid

RNA full name

ribonucleic acid

nucleic acid structure

made up of nucleic acid monomers (nucleotides)

DNA function

encodes instructions to make protein with a specific sequence of amino acids

RNA function

intermediate messenger molecule that transports the information from DNA to make the protein synthesis possible

nucelotides structure

composed of:

• a sugar (pentose, 5 carbon ring)

• phosphate

• nitrogenous base

  sugar and phosphate makes the “backbone” of the DNA/RNA

deoxyribose

sugar in DNA

H (hydrogen) at the 2nd carbon

ribose

sugar in RNA

OH (hydroxyl) group attached to the 2nd carbon

nitrogenous bases

thymine

cytosine

adenine

guanine

difference between purines and pyrimidines

purines - two ring structures

pyrimidines - one ring structure

nitrogenous base structure

adenine bonds with thymine (apples, trees) - 2 H bonds

cytosine bonds to guanine (cars, garages) - 3 H bonds

the hydrogens produced will bonded to each other to form DNA’s double helix/spiral structure (just like secondary protein)

phosphodiester bond

covalent bond that connects DNA/RNA nucleotides together, forming the sugar phosphate backbone from monomers

occur with a condensation rxn

genes function

segments of DNA that are instructions for making proteins

how does genes direct protein synthesis

enzymes copy genes and make an RNA molecule (mRNA) which travels to ribosomes as a messenger because DNA is too large to leave the nucleus

ribosomes “read” RNA and make protein

nitrogenous bases that are purines

adenine and guanine

nitrogenous bases that are pyramidines

cytosine and thymine