Nucleic acids: DNA and RNA

Nucleic acids are the genetic material of the cell and are composed of recurring monomeric units called
nucleotides.
Each nucleotide is comprised of three principal components:
• 5-carbon pentose sugar (pentagon)
• Phosphate group (circle)
• Nitrogenous base (rectangle)

Both the phosphate group and nitrogenous base are attached to the central pentose sugar
• The nitrogenous base is attached to the 1’– carbon atom (right point)
• The phosphate base is attached to the 5’– carbon atom (left point)

Simple Diagram of a Single Nucleotide

Differences between DNA and RNA

Comparison of DNA and RNA Structure

Making DNA Models
Using trial and error, Watson and Crick were able to assemble a DNA model that demonstrated the following:
• DNA strands are antiparallel and form a double helix
• DNA strands pair via complementary base pairing (A = T ; C Ξ G)
• Outer edges of bases remain exposed (allows access to replicative and transcriptional proteins)

As Watson and Crick’s model building was based on trial and error, a number of early models possessed faults:
• The first model generated was a triple helix
• Early models had bases on the outside and sugar-phosphate residues in the centre
• Nitrogenous bases were not initially configured correctly and hence did not demonstrate
complementarity
• Nucleic acids are composed of a combination of 5 nitrogenous bases:
• Guanine and adenine are double-ringed purine molecules
• Cytosine, thymine and uracil are single-ringed pyrimidine molecules

Thymine and uracil are chemically similar molecules – thymine is present in DNA, while uracil is used in RNA

The Five Nitrogenous Bases

Complementary Base Pairing

The nitrogenous bases may form hydrogen bonds according to complementary base pairing:
• Adenine always forms two hydrogen bonds with thymine / uracil
• Guanine always forms three hydrogen bonds with cytosine

Complementary Base Pairs

RNA functions to transfer genetic instructions from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where the information is
decoded.
There are three types of RNA which cooperate to complete this goal:
• Messenger RNA (mRNA) – a transcript copy of a gene which encodes a specific polypeptide
• Transfer RNA (tRNA) – carries the polypeptide subunits (amino acids) to the organelle responsible for
synthesis (ribosome)
• Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) – a primary component of the ribosome and is responsible for its catalytic
activity
Types of RNA

DNA replication is a semi-conservative process, because when a new double-stranded DNA molecule is
formed:
• One strand will be from the original template molecule
• One strand will be newly synthesised

Semi-Conservative DNA Molecule

This occurs because each nitrogenous base can only pair with its complementary partner
• Adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T)
• Cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G)

Consequently, when DNA is replicated by the combined action of helicase and DNA polymerase:
• Each new strand formed will be identical to the original strand separated from the template
• The two semi-conservative molecules formed will have an identical base sequence to the original
molecule
Conservation of Sequence by Complementary Base Pairing