Biopolymers: DNA, RNA, and Proteins

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary element that forms the backbone of an informational biopolymer?

Characteristic elements

Functional groups

Common element (correct)

Solvent molecules

Which of the following correctly describes the nature of informational biopolymers?

They are primarily lipid-based.

They are circular.

They are linear. (correct)

They can be branched.

What determines the information encoded in an informational biopolymer?

Size of the side chains

Length of the polymer

Order of the monomer units (correct)

Type of backbone element

How many types of joining sites must a monomer have to allow for the formation of linear polymers?

Two joining sites Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the characteristic elements in informational biopolymers?

They make monomers unique. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important that informational biopolymers are not branched?

Linear polymers are easier to analyze. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'sequence' refer to in the context of an informational biopolymer?

The arrangement of monomer units Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum number of monomer units that can be joined if a monomer has only one joining site?

Two Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main classes of amino acids based on their chemical properties?

Hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and special Signup and view all the answers

Which nucleotides are incorporated into a growing nucleic acid chain?

High-energy nucleoside triphosphates Signup and view all the answers

What type of bonds link amino acids in a protein chain?

Peptide bonds Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the growth direction of a protein chain?

Amino acids are added at the amino end. Signup and view all the answers

What energizes amino acid monomers for incorporation into a growing protein chain?

Amino acyl-tRNA esters Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the outer two phosphates when an NTP is incorporated into the growing nucleic acid chain?

They are hydrolyzed and released. Signup and view all the answers

What type of reaction is necessary for linking energized monomers during polymer synthesis?

A catalyzed reaction by a specific enzyme Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of NTP?

dATP Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the ends of informational biopolymers?

One end has a A site and the other has a B site. Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of polymer growth in informational biopolymers?

It is unidirectional, occurring only at the 3' end. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the main components of nucleic acids?

Pentose sugar, phosphate and heterocyclic bases. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between DNA and RNA nucleotides?

DNA lacks a 2' hydroxyl group found in RNA. Signup and view all the answers

What type of monomers are used to form proteins?

Amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the joining sites of monomers?

Each monomer has two distinct joining sites, A and B. Signup and view all the answers

How is the molecular backbone of nucleic acids formed?

Using pentose sugar and phosphate groups. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the circular form of DNA found in some organisms?

It lacks ends and is continuous. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Informational Biopolymers: DNA, RNA, and Proteins

Informational biopolymers like DNA, RNA, and proteins are polymers with a specific sequence of monomers that carries information.
The monomers in these biopolymers have a common element that forms the backbone and a characteristic element that distinguishes each monomer.
The common element forms covalent bonds between monomers creating a linear chain while, the characteristic elements form side chains that protrude from the backbone.
Informational biopolymers grow unidirectionally, with new monomers added to one end.
This unidirectional growth creates a polarity, with a distinct 5' end and a 3' end for nucleic acids and an amino end and a carboxyl end for proteins.
The monomers are “energized” to be incorporated into the growing polymer chain. For nucleotides, they are in the form of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), and for amino acids, they are in the form of amino acyl-tRNA esters.
The linkage reaction between monomers is catalyzed by a specific enzyme for each type of biopolymer.

Monomer Structure and Polymerization

If a monomer has one joining site, it can only form dimers and not polymers.
If a monomer has two joining sites, it can form linear polymers of potentially infinite length.
Monomers with three joining sites can create branched polymers, but informational biopolymers are always linear.
In most cases, linear informational biopolymers have two ends. However, in some cases, the two ends can join, forming a circular but unbranched molecule.
Informational biopolymers are made from asymmetric monomers with two different joining sites.

Nucleotides

The nucleotide’s characteristic element is a heterocyclic base.
The nucleotide’s common element is a pentose sugar phosphate.
The two joining sites are the 5' phosphate and the 3' hydroxyl.
DNA and RNA nucleotides are similar, but differ in the pentose sugar. Deoxyribose, found in DNA, lacks the 2' hydroxyl group present in ribose, found in RNA.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the monomers of proteins.
Their chemical properties define three main classes of amino acids: Hydrophobic, Hydrophilic, and Special.
The link between adjacent amino acids is a peptide bond.
Protein chains grow by the addition of new amino acids to the carboxyl end.

Polymer Chain Lengths

Nucleic acids have a wide range of chain lengths: DNA from 10 to 10, and RNA from 20 to 10.
Proteins also have a wide range of chain lengths, from 100 to 10.

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Description

Explore the structure and function of informational biopolymers, including DNA, RNA, and proteins. Learn about their unique monomer sequences, unidirectional growth, and how they carry genetic information. This quiz will test your understanding of these essential biological molecules and their significance in life.