Nucleic Acids, RNA and DNA

These flashcards cover key concepts related to nucleic acids, including their components, structures, and functions.

Nucleic acids

Biochemical macromolecules (RNA and DNA) that encode genetic information.

Friedrich Miescher

The scientist who first isolated nucleic acids from the nuclei of white blood cells in 1869.

Nucleotide

The repeating unit of nucleic acids, composed of a sugar, a base, and a phosphate group.

Sugar-phosphate backbone

The structural framework of nucleic acids formed by sugars linked by phosphates.

D-Ribose

The sugar found in RNA, a pentose aldose sugar.

Deoxyribose

The sugar in DNA, missing an oxygen atom at the C2 position.

Pyrimidines

A class of nitrogenous bases that includes cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Purines

A class of nitrogenous bases that includes adenine and guanine.

Thymine

A pyrimidine base found in DNA, also known as 5-methyluracil.

Uracil

A pyrimidine base found in RNA that replaces thymine.

Tautomerism

A form of chemical equilibrium where isomers differ only in the position of protons.

Nucleoside

A compound formed from a base and a sugar.

Phosphate ester

A functional group formed from the reaction of an alcohol and phosphoric acid.

Phosphodiester bond

A bond linking the 5' phosphate group of one nucleotide to the 3' hydroxyl group of another.

Polynucleotide

A polymer made up of many nucleotides linked together.

Hydrophilic

Having an affinity for water, a property of the backbone of nucleic acids.

5' to 3' directionality

The convention for writing nucleotide sequences from the 5' end to the 3' end.

Hydrolysis of RNA

A reaction that rapidly breaks down RNA under alkaline conditions due to the presence of a 2' hydroxyl group.

Caffeine

A purine compound also known as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine.

Theobromine

A closely related purine found in chocolate.