Week 8: Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids

30 Questions

What is the primary function of DNA?

To store and transmit biological information

What is the function of messenger RNA?

To carry genetic information from genes to the ribosome

What is a characteristic of nitrogenous bases?

They are planar or almost planar structures

What is the function of ribosomal RNA?

To catalyze protein synthesis

What is a nucleotide composed of?

A nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group

What is the function of transfer RNA?

To translate genetic information into a sequence of amino acids

Which nucleotide bases are found in both RNA and DNA?

Adenine and guanine

What is the ring structure of deoxyribose in DNA?

β-D-2’-deoxyribofuranose

Which atom in purines forms a glycosidic bond with the sugar ring?

What is the conformation of pyrimidines (C, T, and U) in nucleotides?

Only anti conformation

What is the phosphate group bridge formed between in a nucleic acid?

The 3'-hydroxyl group of one unit and the 5'-hydroxyl group of the following unit

Why are nucleic acids soluble in water?

Due to the negative charge of the phosphate group and H-bond of sugar ring

What is the name of the pentose found in DNA?

Deoxyribose

What is the type of bond that connects nucleotides in a nucleic acid?

Phosphodiester bond

What type of bonds hold the nucleotides together in DNA?

Covalent bonds

What is the orientation of the sequence in a polypeptide?

N terminus -> C terminus

What is the result of hydrolysis of RNA under alkaline conditions?

A mixture of 2'- and 3'-nucleoside monophosphate

What is the direction of reading the DNA sequence?

From 5' to 3'

What is the diameter of the DNA double helix?

20 Å

What is the pentose sugar found in RNA?

Ribose

Which of the following base pairs is incorrect?

A-G

What is the term for the bond that connects the nitrogenous base to the pentose sugar in a nucleotide?

Glycosidic bond

What is the name of the molecule that consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or more phosphate groups?

Nucleotide

What is the result of DNA replication?

Two new DNA molecules with one parent and one daughter strand each

What is the characteristic of a palindrome in DNA structure?

A sequence with twofold symmetry over two strands of DNA

What is the main function of messenger RNA?

To carry genetic message from nucleus to cytoplasm

What is the difference between monocistronic and polycistronic mRNA?

Monocistronic mRNA codes for one protein, while polycistronic mRNA codes for multiple proteins

What is the purpose of RNA splicing?

To remove introns and join exons to form a continuous sequence

What is the characteristic of native DNA structure?

Two antiparallel chains in a right-handed double-helical arrangement

What is the difference between introns and exons?

Introns are noncoding segments of mRNA, while exons are coding segments

Learn about the basics of nucleotides and nucleic acids, their structure, chemistry, and functions in energy metabolism, enzyme cofactors, signal transduction, and genetic information storage and transmission.

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