AOS1 Nucleic acids

Protein structure

Amino acids

• The building blocks of proteins (monomers of protein)

• composed of a central carbon atom, carboxyl group, amino group, an R-group and a hydrogen atom.

• when amino acids are joined together they produce nucleotide chains (polypeptides).

• The joining of amino acids occur at the cells ribosome via condensation reaction, which results in the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids.

Protein structure

• Primary- refers to the sequence of amino acids.

• Secondary- When polypeptides fold by forming hydrogen bonds between amino acids of different sections, forming alpha helices, beta pleated sheets and random coils.

• Tertiary- It is the functional 3d shape of a protein (proteins must at least have a tertiary structure to be functional). When secondary structures further fold by forming interactions between amino acids and r-groups of it’s different sections.

• Quaternary- Formed through the bonding of two or more polypeptide chains with tertiary structures together.

Nucleic acids

• nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotide monomers.

• they store genetic information and form molecules that aid in the production of proteins.

Nucleotides

• include a phosphate group, 5-carbon sugar and a nitrogen-containing base.

• Within the 5-carbon sugar, each is assigned a number in a clockwise direction (one prime to five prime)

• 1’ attaches to the nitrogenous base.

• 3’ attaches to the phosphate of the following nucleotide.

• 5’ attaches the 5-carbon sugar to the phosphate group of the nucleotide.

• Sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids- the linkage of sugars and phosphate groups.

• many nucleotides join together through phosphodiester bonds formed via condensation reaction, forming polynucleotide chains. (bonds exist between the sugar group of a nucleotide and the phosphate group of another.

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