Nucleic Acids PDF

NUCLEIC ACIDS  Largest molecule among the other macromolecules ( being composed of several nucleotide subunits) * DNA polymers can be very large NUCLEIC ACID molecules containing millions of nucleotides. For instance...

NUCLEIC ACIDS  Largest molecule among the other macromolecules ( being composed of several nucleotide subunits) * DNA polymers can be very large NUCLEIC ACID molecules containing millions of nucleotides. For instance, the largest human chromosome, chromosome number 1, is approximately 220 million base pairs long  The two types of NUCLEIC ACID nucleic acid are: DNA and RNA NUCLEOTIDES Monomer of nucleic acids  A nucleotide is consists of : (1.) phosphate group NUCLEOTIDES (2.) pentose sugar (3.) nitrogenous bases Phosphate group Pentose sugar Nitrogenous bases  DNA ADENINE – THYMINE Forms two hydrogen bond Nitrogenous GUANINE – CYTOSINE bases - Forms three hydrogen bond RNA ADENINE – URACIL GUANINE – CYTOSINE - DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID  Usually found in the nucleus, but also in mitochondria and chloroplast DNA  It has a deoxyribose sugar DNA  It is double stranded; double-helix shape DNA  DNA NITROGENOUS BASES Adenine Cytosine Guanine Thymine Discovery of DNA structure  DNA Crick and Watson, together, won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery of the structure of DNA. This was one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the 20th century.  DNA English chemist and X- ray crystallographer who made contributions to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), viruses, coal, and graphite DNA Early in the 1950s, DNA was first examined by x-ray diffraction analysis, a technique for determining the three-dimensional atomic structure of a molecule FUNCTIONS OF DNA  contains the instructions an organism needs to develop, live and reproduce.  DNA holds the code for proteins, which are complex molecules that do huge amounts of work around our body  DNA replication is vital for a virtually endless list of functions, from reproduction to maintenance and growth of cells, tissues and body systems.  DNA makes a copy of itself in order to pass genetic information on to newly formed daughter cells. RIBONUCLEIC ACID  found in the nucleus, RNA cytoplasm and ribosome  Single stranded; it can be linear or can form hairpin loop. RNA Hairpin loops are commonly observed in RNA molecules such as messenger RNA (mRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA). RNA  It has a ribose sugar RNA  RNA NITROGENOUS BASES Adenine Cytosine Guanine Uracil TYPES AND FUNCTIONS OF RNA  1. Messenger RNA There are 2. Ribosomal RNA four types of RNA: 3. Transfer RNA 4. Micro RNA  AATTGCGCGCGCGA Messenger AATTTATGCAGTCAT RNA CGAATGCATGCAGT ACTAGCCTACTTAC  A major constituent of ribosomes on which the Ribosomal mRNA binds. RNA It ensures the proper alignment of the mRNA and the ribosome.  It is one of the smallest of the four types of RNA. Its job is to match an mRNA Transfer RNA codon with the amino acid it codes for; molecular "bridge" between the two. Carries the correct amino acid to the site of protein synthesis  It is the smallest RNA molecules and their role involves the Micro RNA regulation of gene expression by interfering with the expression of certain mRNA message CENTRAL DOGMA  DNA – RNA – PROTEIN – TRAIT TRANSCRIPTION - the process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). DNA safely and stably stores genetic material in the nuclei of cells as a reference, or template. TRANSLATION - step in protein synthesis wherein the genetic code carried by mRNA is decoded to produce the specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain; process by which a protein is synthesized from the information contained in a molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA)  DNA RNA FUNCTION Carries genetic Involved in protein information synthesis LOCATION Remains in the nucleus Leaves the nucleus (can be found (cytoplasm and mitochondria and ribosome) chloroplast STRUCTURE Double helix Usually single stranded (hairpin loop) SUGAR Deoxyribose Ribose PYRIMIDINES Cytosine, thymine Cytosine, uracil PURINES Adenine, guanine Adenine, guanine