Nucleic Acids

 The largest biological

molecules
 Store and transfer
information within a cell
 Include DNA and RNA
 Are made of
nucleotides
– 5-carbon sugar
– Phosphate group
– Nitrogenous group
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 Nitrogenous base
(can be A, G, C, or U/T)

Connection to the next

nucleotide in the chain

Uracil (U)

Phosphate
group

Sugar (deoxy)
ribose

Connection to the next

nucleotide in the chain
 Components of Nucleotides
5-carbon sugar

DNA RNA
 Components of Nucleotides

Nitrogenous
base * *
T
A DNA

G
RNA
Nitrogen attaches
* with sugar molecule
C U
 Nitrogenous base
(can be A, G, C, or T)
Connection
to the next
nucleotide
in the chain

Thymine (T)

Phosphate
group Phosphate
Base

Sugar
Connection to the (deoxyribose)
next nucleotide in Sugar
the chain
 Sugar-phosphate
backbone

Base
Nucleotide pair
Hydrogen
bond

Bases

(b) Double helix

(a) DNA strand (two polynucleotide strands)
(polynucleotide) Space-filling model of DNA
 The Structure of DNA

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 DNA

 Each DNA molecule is made of two strands.

– Held together by hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous
bases
– The bases pair according to base pair rules.
 Adenine - thymine
 Cytosine - guanine
 The two DNA strands are twisted on each other, forming
a double helix.
 Each DNA strand is divided into segments.
– Each segment forms a gene.
– Genes are the recipes for proteins.
 The sequence of nucleotides in a gene dictate the order of amino
acids in a polypeptide.
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 DNA and Chromosomes

 Each DNA strand has many genes.

 Each DNA strand is called a chromosome.
 Human cells have 46 chromosomes in each
cell.
– Each cell copies all of these chromosomes before
it divides to pass along to daughter cells.

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 The Functions of DNA

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 The Functions of DNA

 DNA is able to:

– Replicate itself
– Store information and transmit it to offspring
– Direct synthesis of proteins
– Mutate (change chemically)

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 RNA

 RNA is a single-stranded molecule.

 Contains uracil instead of thymine
 Base pairs with itself and DNA
– A-U
– G-C
 RNA is found in three different forms:
– mRNA (messenger RNA)
– rRNA (ribosomal RNA)
– tRNA (transfer RNA)

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 DNA
vs.
RNA

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 Lipids

 Commonly called fats

 Large and nonpolar
– Do not dissolve in water
– Dissolve in other nonpolar molecules like acetone
 Usually have very few oxygen atoms
 There are three main types of lipids:
– True fats (e.g., pork chop fat and oils)
– Phospholipids (membrane components)
– Steroids (most hormones)

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Roles for lipids in organisms
include
 :
– Energy storage (fats and oils)
– Cell membranes (phospholipids)
– Capture of light energy (carotinoids)
– Hormones and vitamins (steroids and
modified fatty acids)
– Thermal insulation
– Electrical insulation of nerves
– Water repellency (waxes and oils)
 H HO
Fatty acid

H2O

Glycerol

A dehydration reaction linking a fatty acid to glycerol

A fat molecule with a glycerol “head” and three
energy-rich hydrocarbon fatty acid “tails”
 True (neutral) Fats

 Used to provide energy

 The building blocks of
fats
– A glycerol molecule
– Three fatty acids

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 Saturated vs. Unsaturated Lipids

 If the carbon skeleton of a fatty acid has as much

hydrogen as possible, the fat is called a saturated fat.
– Saturated fats are found in animal tissues and tend to be
solid at room temperature.
 If the carbons of a fat have double-bonded carbon
molecules in them, the fat is called unsaturated fat.
– Unsaturated fats are frequently plant fats and are liquids at
room temperature.
– A polyunsaturated fat has several double bonds.
– Fats are important energy storage molecules.

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Figure 3.19 Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids
 Saturated and Unsaturated
Fatty Acids

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 Phospholipids

 Phospholipids have two

hydrophobic fatty acid tails and
one hydrophilic phosphate
group attached to the glycerol.
 Phospholipids orient
themselves so that the
phosphate group faces water
and the tail faces away.
 In aqueous environments,
these lipids form bilayers, with
heads facing outward, tails
facing inward. Cell membranes
are structured this way
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Steroids
 Steroids

 Nonpolar molecules that are arranged in rings of

carbon
 Steroids are important components of cell
membranes.
– Cholesterol
 Steroids often serve as hormones and serve in
regulation of body processes.
– Testosterone, estrogen

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Steroids
 Overview

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