3/6/24, 8:41 AM Platform | Study Fetch

Nucleic Acid Structure and Components

Ribonucleotides and Deoxyribonucleotides

- The basic building blocks of RNA and DNA are called ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides respectively
(FIG. 2.18)

- Both contain a phosphate group, a sugar (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA), and one of five nitrogen-
containing bases

The Bases

- There are two types of bases: pyrimidines and purines (FIG. 2.19)

- Pyrimidines are single-ring structures and include cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U)

- Purines are double-ring structures and include guanine (G) and adenine (A)

- DNA contains A, T, G, C while RNA contains A, U, G, C

Base Pairing Provides Genetic Information

- The order and sequence of the bases in nucleic acids determines the genetic information (FIG. 2.18)

Phosphodiester Bonds Link Nucleotides

- Each adjacent nucleotide pair is connected by a phosphodiester bond which forms when a phosphate from one
nucleotide bonds to the sugar of the next (FIG. 2.20)

- Phosphodiester bond formation involves the loss of a water molecule like peptide bond formation

Nucleic Acid Structure

- Nucleotides are the monomeric units that make up nucleic acids

- Each nucleotide contains a phosphate group, a pentose sugar (ribose in RNA, deoxyribose in DNA), and a
nitrogenous base

- The bases are of two types - purines (double-ring structures - adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (single-
ring structures - cytosine, thymine, and uracil)

- In DNA, the bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. In RNA, thymine is replaced with uracil.

- The sequence of these bases carries the genetic code and information

- Adjacent nucleotides are connected via phosphodiester bonds between the phosphate of one nucleotide and the
sugar hydroxyl of the next. This involves loss of a water molecule.

- Phosphodiester bonding of the nucleotides forms the polymeric backbone of nucleic acids.

https://www.studyfetch.com/platform/studyset/65e7b8ed25d36a738a282618/material/65e7b945344c323a3b32fa6e/document 1/1