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Questions and Answers
How are nucleotides in DNA joined together?
How are nucleotides in DNA joined together?
- Through hydrolysis reactions breaking phosphodiester bonds
- By removing a hydrogen atom from the 3′ carbon of one nucleotide
- By removing a hydroxyl group from the 5′ carbon of another nucleotide
- Through dehydration synthesis reactions forming phosphodiester bonds (correct)
Who worked together to determine the structure of DNA in the 1950s?
Who worked together to determine the structure of DNA in the 1950s?
- Rosalind Franklin and Francis Crick
- Linus Pauling and Maurice Wilkins
- James Watson and Linus Pauling
- Francis Crick and James Watson (correct)
Which technique did Rosalind Franklin use to understand the structure of DNA?
Which technique did Rosalind Franklin use to understand the structure of DNA?
- Crystallography
- Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
- Electron microscopy
- X-ray diffraction methods (correct)
Why were Nobel Prizes not awarded posthumously to individuals like Rosalind Franklin?
Why were Nobel Prizes not awarded posthumously to individuals like Rosalind Franklin?
Which of the following scientists discovered the secondary structure of proteins using X-ray crystallography?
Which of the following scientists discovered the secondary structure of proteins using X-ray crystallography?
What did Watson and Crick base their understanding of DNA structure on?
What did Watson and Crick base their understanding of DNA structure on?
What is the main function of mRNA in the cell?
What is the main function of mRNA in the cell?
Which nucleotide is found in RNA but not in DNA?
Which nucleotide is found in RNA but not in DNA?
What type of bond links nucleotides in RNA?
What type of bond links nucleotides in RNA?
In RNA, what replaces deoxyribose sugar found in DNA?
In RNA, what replaces deoxyribose sugar found in DNA?
What is the function of microRNA (miRNA) in the cell?
What is the function of microRNA (miRNA) in the cell?
What happens if a cell requires a certain protein to be synthesized?
What happens if a cell requires a certain protein to be synthesized?
What type of carbon-nitrogen ring do cytosine, thymine, and uracil have?
What type of carbon-nitrogen ring do cytosine, thymine, and uracil have?
What is attached to the 1' carbon of each nucleotide?
What is attached to the 1' carbon of each nucleotide?
What type of sugar is found in RNA?
What type of sugar is found in RNA?
What is the function of phosphodiester linkages in nucleic acids?
What is the function of phosphodiester linkages in nucleic acids?
What is the directionality of nucleic acids?
What is the directionality of nucleic acids?
What is the missing atom in deoxyribose sugar that gives DNA its name?
What is the missing atom in deoxyribose sugar that gives DNA its name?
What are the macromolecular components of most enzymes made of?
What are the macromolecular components of most enzymes made of?
Which type of enzymes catalyze reactions in their own bonds or among other RNAs?
Which type of enzymes catalyze reactions in their own bonds or among other RNAs?
What happens to an enzyme's structure upon heating?
What happens to an enzyme's structure upon heating?
What is the primary function of enzymes in the circulatory system?
What is the primary function of enzymes in the circulatory system?
What is the typical size of enzymes compared to their substrates?
What is the typical size of enzymes compared to their substrates?
Which part of the enzyme structure is involved in catalysis?
Which part of the enzyme structure is involved in catalysis?
What is the term for the temperature at which an enzyme shows its maximum activity?
What is the term for the temperature at which an enzyme shows its maximum activity?
What happens to enzymes when exposed to temperatures beyond their optimum?
What happens to enzymes when exposed to temperatures beyond their optimum?
What is the term for the point at which all enzymes added are occupied by substrate molecules?
What is the term for the point at which all enzymes added are occupied by substrate molecules?
What is the term for a chemical that binds to the active site of an enzyme and inhibits its activity?
What is the term for a chemical that binds to the active site of an enzyme and inhibits its activity?
What is the typical optimum pH range for enzymes?
What is the typical optimum pH range for enzymes?
What happens to enzyme activity when the temperature drops below its optimum?
What happens to enzyme activity when the temperature drops below its optimum?
Study Notes
Nucleic Acids
- Dehydration synthesis reactions form nucleic acids by removing a hydroxyl group from the 3′ carbon of one nucleotide and a hydrogen atom from the hydroxyl group attached to the 5′ carbon of another nucleotide, producing water and a phosphodiester bond.
Structure of DNA
- James Watson and Francis Crick determined the structure of DNA in the 1950s using X-ray diffraction data from Rosalind Franklin.
- DNA is a double helix structure consisting of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds.
RNA
- Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is involved in protein synthesis and is composed of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds.
- RNA contains ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose and uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).
- RNA is usually single-stranded, but internal base pairing creates a 3D structure essential for function.
Types of RNA
- messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic code from DNA.
- ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is involved in protein synthesis.
- transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids to the ribosome.
- microRNA (miRNA) regulates gene expression.
Structure of Nucleotides
- Nucleotides consist of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.
- The carbon atoms of the pentose sugar are numbered as 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, and 5′.
- In RNA, the pentose sugar is ribose, which has a hydroxyl group attached to the 2′ carbon.
- In DNA, the pentose sugar is deoxyribose, which has a hydrogen atom attached to the 2′ carbon.
Phosphodiester Linkages
- Phosphodiester linkages are covalent bonds between the 3′ carbon of one nucleotide and the 5′ phosphate group of another.
- Nucleic acids have directionality, with the first nucleotide having a free phosphate group at the 5′ end and the last nucleotide having a free 3′ hydroxy group.
Enzymes
- Enzymes are proteins that catalyze reactions in metabolic pathways.
- Enzymes are found in all tissues and fluids of the body.
- Enzymes have a specific structure, which determines their catalytic activity.
- Enzymes require an optimum temperature and pH for their action.
- The sequence of amino acids in an enzyme specifies its structure and function.
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Description
Explore the structure of nucleotides and RNA, including the classification of bases as purines and pyrimidines, the numbering of carbon atoms in pentose sugar, and the differences between DNA and RNA sugars. Test your knowledge on the components of nucleotides in this quiz!
