Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acid Structure

Polymer (4th macromolecule) Monomer subunits are called nucleotides Nucleotides have 3 components:

1) pentose sugar 2) phosphate group (PO4

3-) 3) nitrogenous base

NNO

PHOSPHATE

PENTOSE SUGAR

NITROGEN BASE

NUCLEOTIDE

Nucleotide Monomers

Monomers Make Polymers

Types of Nucleic Acids

1) DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid

2) RNARibonucleic acid

3) ATPAdenosine

triphosphate

1) DNA FUNCTIONS:

Direct growth and development of every living thing by means of a chemical code

Controls the production of proteins and other chemical messengersDNA to RNA to Protein (Central

Dogma) Hereditary molecule and the basis of genetics

…..aside Proteins are CRUCIAL to EVERYTHING in

the body DNA controls everything in your body through the

production of proteins. That’s all that DNA knows how to do. That’s all that DNA can do.

Proteins then, do all the work (mitosis, mood, pregnancy, puberty, appetite, addiction, hair and nails, vision and hemoglobin are just some examples!)

1) DNA STRUCTURE:

Double-stranded / double helix Strands run antiparallel (5’ to 3’/ 3’ to 5’) Pentose sugar has one less oxygen than RNA

(“de-oxy”) Nitrogenous bases:

A (adenine) T (thymine) C (cytosine) G (guanine)

…Antiparallel DNA

Phosphodiester Bonds

ATCG: Nucleotide Base Pairs

1) DNA

Strands formed by phosphodiester linkages 5’ carbon and 3’ carbon, 2 ester bonds

Purines always pair with pyrimidines PURINES: Adenine and Guanine

Double rings PYRIMIDINES: Cytosine and Thymine

Single rings

A pairs with T (2 H-bonds) C pairs with G (3 H-bonds)

EXAMPLE: DNA Sequence: AATTCCGG Complimentary DNA Sequence: TTAAGGCC

DNA is located inside the nucleus and cannot leave – necessitates RNA

} complimentary base pairs

DNA versus RNA

2) RNA

FUNCTION:Single-strandedIntegral part of protein synthesis

Transfers DNA msg outside of nucUsually in the cytoplasmDNA RNA Protein (central

dogma)

2) RNA STRUCTURE

Ribonucleic acid – One more oxygen than DNA

Nitrogenous bases A, U, C, G (U: uracil) When DNA RNA, A pairs with U instead of T

Example: DNA Sequence: TTAACCGG RNA Complimentary Sequence: AAUUGGCC

3) ATP

Not a polymer like DNA and RNA ATP is a monomer

Adenine + Ribose + 3 Phosphate groups High-energy bonds b/w phosphate grps ATP is the energy-storing molecule

ATP Structure

3) ATP Energy Release

ATP + H2O ADP + Pi + Energy

Reversible reaction

Energy and Reactions

Endergonic: requires energy for the reaction to occur

Exergonic: releases energy as a product of the reaction

HOMEWORK

Review Notes Refer to Pages 28-30 Problem set