Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides

Flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and processes related to nucleic acids and nucleotides.

Nucleic Acids

Biochemical macromolecules like RNA and DNA that encode genetic information.

Nucleotide

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

Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

The chain of sugars linked by phosphates in nucleic acids, analogous to the peptide backbone in proteins.

Ribose

The sugar component of RNA that forms a furanose ring.

Deoxyribose

The sugar component of DNA, which is missing an oxygen atom at the C2 position.

Pyrimidine Bases

A class of nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids, including cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Purine Bases

A class of nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids, including adenine and guanine.

Tautomerism

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

Nucleoside

A molecule formed by linking a base to a sugar.

Phosphate Ester

A compound formed when a phosphate group is added to a nucleoside, converting it into a nucleotide.

Polynucleotide

A chain of nucleotides linked together by phosphodiester bonds.

Phosphodiester Link

An ester bond that links the 5′ OH of one nucleotide to the 3′ OH of another.

Hydrophilic Backbone

The properties of nucleic acid backbones formed by alternating sugar and phosphate residues.

5' to 3' Directionality

The convention to write nucleotide sequences, indicating the direction in which nucleic acids are synthesized.

Hydrolysis of RNA

The process by which RNA is rapidly broken down under alkaline conditions due to the 2′ hydroxyl group.