STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION OF NUCLEIC
ACIDS
INTRODUCTION.
Nucleic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that may be broken down
to produce phosphoric acid, sugars, and a variety of organic bases like
pyrimidines and purines. The primary information-carrying molecule in a
cell is nucleic acids, which also control how proteins are made, which
allows them to influence how traits are passed down from one living
thing to another. Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Ribonucleic acid are the 2
primary types of nucleic acids. All unrestricted creatures and the
majority of viruses have genetic material made up of DNA, which is the
ultimate outline or plan of life. Some Viruses have their genetic makeup
consisting of RNA, which may also be found in all living cells, in these
cells, RNA is a key component in the production of proteins, among other
vital biological functions. The assignment will further cover the
properties, chemistry, and structures of nucleic acids, DNA, and RNA and
how it serves for genetic information transmitters.
NUCLEOTIDES
,[ Figure 1 above: Shows the nucleotide arrangement within the structure of
nucleic acids. The pictures show the phosphate group bonded to a sugar which
is also bonded to a nitrogenous base. It shows the DNA structure unwinding to
show the DNA helix with the nucleotides. The last image shows the Ribonucleic
acid, where Adenine pairs with Uracil. ]
The many nucleotides that make up nucleic acids, which are long, chain-
like molecules, are very identical to one another. A five-carbon sugar
pentose is connected to a phosphate group, which is then bonded to a
nitrogen-containing aromatic base in each nucleotide. The possible
nitrogen bases in each nucleic acid can be up to 4 or 5 and they can be
Adenine [A], Thymine [T], Guanine [G], Cytosine [C], and Uracil [U].
Pyrimidines consist of U, C, T, and U while purines consist of G and A.
Nucleic acids will normally contain G, A, and C, but T only consists of
DNA, while RNA has U instead of T. As there is no -OH [Hydroxyl group]
on the 2’ carbon of the DNA’s pentose sugar ring, DNA’s pentose sugar
[2’-deoxyribose], it varies from RNA’s Pentose sugar [ribose].
Nucleosides are sugars attached with one of the bases but without a
phosphate group. The 3' hydroxyl group on one sugar and the 5' hydroxyl
, group on that of the following sugar are linked by the phosphate group,
which then links the subsequent sugar residue in the chain. These
nucleoside linkages, known as phosphodiester bonds, may be found in
both DNA and RNA. In the cell, easily accessible precursors are used to
create nucleotides. The pentose phosphate pathway uses glucose as a
starting point to create the ribose phosphate component of both
pyrimidine and purine nucleotides. After being created, the ribose
phosphate is next joined to the six-atom pyrimidine ring. During the
making of Guanine and Adenine nucleosides, the two rings of purines are
created while still being connected to the ribose phosphate. The outcome
in both cases will be a nucleotide including a phosphate bound to the
sugar's 5' carbon. Lastly, to create Ribonucleoside triphosphate, the
immediate precursor of RNA, a specialized enzyme known as kinase adds
2 phosphate groups utilizing ATP as the phosphate donor.
Deoxyribonucleoside diphosphate is produced for DNA when the 2’
Hydroxyl group is taken off of Ribonucleoside diphosphate. The
immediate precursor of DNA, deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate is
created by adding a further phosphate group from ATP by a different
enzyme. RNA is continually being produced and degraded during regular
cell metabolism. Many salvage processes repurpose the pyrimidine and
purine residues to produce more energetic material. In contrast to
pyrimidine, purine is rescued as the nucleoside of the matching
nucleotide.
DNA REPLICATION STEPS AND PROCESS
Every cell's DNA holds its genetic code. Biomolecules and organelles
must reproduce or duplicate in order to be disseminated or
reach throughout the cell before mitosis or meiosis, wherein a cell
divides to produce new daughter cells. DNA, needs to be replicated to
ensure that each new cell has the right number of chromosomes.
Duplicating DNA is known as DNA replication. Numerous RNA- and
protein-based mechanisms termed as replication enzymes are used to
carry out replication. Cells, including those of plants and animals,
replicate DNA in the S phase of interphase during the cell cycle. For cell
development, reproduction, and repair in living beings, DNA replication
is essential.
DNA is a type of molecule that is contained within a nucleic acid. A
nitrogenous base, deoxyribose sugar with 5 carbons and phosphate make
up its composition. The double strand of DNA is composed of two spiral
FUNCTION OF NUCLEIC
ACIDS
INTRODUCTION.
Nucleic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that may be broken down
to produce phosphoric acid, sugars, and a variety of organic bases like
pyrimidines and purines. The primary information-carrying molecule in a
cell is nucleic acids, which also control how proteins are made, which
allows them to influence how traits are passed down from one living
thing to another. Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Ribonucleic acid are the 2
primary types of nucleic acids. All unrestricted creatures and the
majority of viruses have genetic material made up of DNA, which is the
ultimate outline or plan of life. Some Viruses have their genetic makeup
consisting of RNA, which may also be found in all living cells, in these
cells, RNA is a key component in the production of proteins, among other
vital biological functions. The assignment will further cover the
properties, chemistry, and structures of nucleic acids, DNA, and RNA and
how it serves for genetic information transmitters.
NUCLEOTIDES
,[ Figure 1 above: Shows the nucleotide arrangement within the structure of
nucleic acids. The pictures show the phosphate group bonded to a sugar which
is also bonded to a nitrogenous base. It shows the DNA structure unwinding to
show the DNA helix with the nucleotides. The last image shows the Ribonucleic
acid, where Adenine pairs with Uracil. ]
The many nucleotides that make up nucleic acids, which are long, chain-
like molecules, are very identical to one another. A five-carbon sugar
pentose is connected to a phosphate group, which is then bonded to a
nitrogen-containing aromatic base in each nucleotide. The possible
nitrogen bases in each nucleic acid can be up to 4 or 5 and they can be
Adenine [A], Thymine [T], Guanine [G], Cytosine [C], and Uracil [U].
Pyrimidines consist of U, C, T, and U while purines consist of G and A.
Nucleic acids will normally contain G, A, and C, but T only consists of
DNA, while RNA has U instead of T. As there is no -OH [Hydroxyl group]
on the 2’ carbon of the DNA’s pentose sugar ring, DNA’s pentose sugar
[2’-deoxyribose], it varies from RNA’s Pentose sugar [ribose].
Nucleosides are sugars attached with one of the bases but without a
phosphate group. The 3' hydroxyl group on one sugar and the 5' hydroxyl
, group on that of the following sugar are linked by the phosphate group,
which then links the subsequent sugar residue in the chain. These
nucleoside linkages, known as phosphodiester bonds, may be found in
both DNA and RNA. In the cell, easily accessible precursors are used to
create nucleotides. The pentose phosphate pathway uses glucose as a
starting point to create the ribose phosphate component of both
pyrimidine and purine nucleotides. After being created, the ribose
phosphate is next joined to the six-atom pyrimidine ring. During the
making of Guanine and Adenine nucleosides, the two rings of purines are
created while still being connected to the ribose phosphate. The outcome
in both cases will be a nucleotide including a phosphate bound to the
sugar's 5' carbon. Lastly, to create Ribonucleoside triphosphate, the
immediate precursor of RNA, a specialized enzyme known as kinase adds
2 phosphate groups utilizing ATP as the phosphate donor.
Deoxyribonucleoside diphosphate is produced for DNA when the 2’
Hydroxyl group is taken off of Ribonucleoside diphosphate. The
immediate precursor of DNA, deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate is
created by adding a further phosphate group from ATP by a different
enzyme. RNA is continually being produced and degraded during regular
cell metabolism. Many salvage processes repurpose the pyrimidine and
purine residues to produce more energetic material. In contrast to
pyrimidine, purine is rescued as the nucleoside of the matching
nucleotide.
DNA REPLICATION STEPS AND PROCESS
Every cell's DNA holds its genetic code. Biomolecules and organelles
must reproduce or duplicate in order to be disseminated or
reach throughout the cell before mitosis or meiosis, wherein a cell
divides to produce new daughter cells. DNA, needs to be replicated to
ensure that each new cell has the right number of chromosomes.
Duplicating DNA is known as DNA replication. Numerous RNA- and
protein-based mechanisms termed as replication enzymes are used to
carry out replication. Cells, including those of plants and animals,
replicate DNA in the S phase of interphase during the cell cycle. For cell
development, reproduction, and repair in living beings, DNA replication
is essential.
DNA is a type of molecule that is contained within a nucleic acid. A
nitrogenous base, deoxyribose sugar with 5 carbons and phosphate make
up its composition. The double strand of DNA is composed of two spiral
