THE NUCLEIC ACIDS

Revised by: Mr. John Paul A. Reponte

Adopted file from: Paul Billiet ODWS 2016
Friedrich Miescher in 1869

• Isolated what he called

nuclein from the nuclei of
pus cells
• Nuclein was shown to
have acidic properties,
hence it became called
nucleic acid

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Two types of nucleic acid are found
• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

• Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

 Nucleic acids

DNA stores the genetic information of an organism and

transmits that information from one generation to
another.

RNA translates the genetic information contained in DNA into

proteins needed for all cellular function.

RNA and DNA are unbranched polymers

(monomers: nucleotides).
The distribution of nucleic acids in
the eukaryotic cell
• DNA is found in the nucleus
with small amounts in mitochondria and
chloroplasts
• RNA is found throughout the cell

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

DNA as genetic material: The
circumstantial evidence
1. Present in all cells and virtually restricted to the
nucleus
2. The amount of DNA in somatic cells (body cells) of any
given species is constant (like the number of
chromosomes)
3. The DNA content of gametes (sex cells) is half that of
somatic cells.
In cases of polyploidy (multiple sets of chromosomes)
the DNA content increases by a proportional factor
4. The mutagenic effect of UV light peaks at 253.7nm.
The peak for the absorption of UV light by DNA
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
NUCLEIC ACID STRUCTURE
• Nucleic acids are polynucleotides

• Their building blocks are nucleotides

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

NUCLEOTIDE STRUCTURE

PHOSPHATE SUGAR BASE

PURINES PYRIMIDINES
Ribose or
Deoxyribose Adenine (A) Cytocine (C)
Guanine(G) Thymine (T)
Uracil (U)

NUCLEOTIDE
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Ribose is a pentose

C5

C4 C1

C3 C2

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

 Spot the difference

RIBOSE DEOXYRIBOSE

CH2OH CH2OH
O OH O OH

C C C C

H H H H H H H H

C C C C

OH OH OH H
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
 P

THE SUGAR-PHOSPHATE
BACKBONE P

• The nucleotides are all

orientated in the same P

direction
P
• The phosphate group joins
the 3rd Carbon of one sugar
to the 5th Carbon of the next P

in line.
P

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

 P
G

ADDING IN THE BASES P

C

• The bases are attached to

P
the 1 Carbon st
C
• Their order is important
It determines the genetic P
A
information of the molecule
P
T

P
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
T
 Hydrogen bonds
P
G C
DNA IS MADE OF P

TWO STRANDS OF P
C G
POLYNUCLEOTIDE P
P
C G
P

P
A T
P

P
T A
P
P
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS T A
P
DNA IS MADE OF TWO STRANDS OF
POLYNUCLEOTIDE
• The sister strands of the DNA molecule run in
opposite directions (antiparallel)
• They are joined by the bases
• Each base is paired with a specific partner:
A is always paired with T
G is always paired with C
Purine with Pyrimidine
• Thus the sister strands are complementary but not
identical
• The bases are joined by hydrogen bonds,
individually weak but collectively strong.
© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS
Erwin Chargaff’s Data (1950-51)

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

 Bases (Chemical Structures)
N H2 O O
4
CH3
3 N 5 N HN HN
2 6
N O N O N O N
1
H H H
Pyrimidine Cytosine (C) Thymine (T) Uracil (U)
(DNA and (DNA only) (in RNA only)
some RNA)

6 7 N H2 O
1
N
5 N N N
8
N HN
2
N 4 N9 N N N N
3
H2 N
H H H
Purine Adenine (A) Guanine (G)
(DNA and RNA) (DNA and RNA)
 Difference between DNA & RNA

1. DNA has four bases: A, G, C, and T.

RNA has four bases: A, G, C, and U.

2. In DNA: Sugar is 2-deoxy-D-ribose.

In RNA: Sugar is D-ribose.

3. DNA is almost always double-stranded (helical structure).

RNA is single strand.

4. RNA is much smaller than DNA.

 RNA molecules
Transmits the genetic information needed to operate the cell.

1. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Most abundant RNA – is found in ribosomes: sites for protein synthesis.

2. Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Carries genetic information from DNA (in nucleus) to ribosomes (in cytoplasm)
for protein synthesis. They are produced in “Transcription” from DNA.

3. Transfer RNA (tRNA)

The smallest RNA. Translates the genetic information in mRNA and brings specific
Amino acids to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
 Functions of DNA

1. It reproduces itself when a cell divides (Replication).

2. It supplied the information to make up RNA, proteins, and enzymes.

 Replication
Separation of the two original strands and synthesis
of two new daughter strands using the original strands as templates.

By breaking H-bonds
 Replication

Replication is bidirectional: takes place at the same speed in both directions.

Replication is semiconservative: each daughter molecule has one parental strand

and one newly synthesized one.

Origin of replication: specific point of DNA where replication begins.

Replication fork: specific point of DNA where replication is proceeding.

Replication occurs at many places simultaneously along the helix.

Watson & Crick Base pairing

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Double Helix (1953)

© 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS www.chem.ucsb.edu/.../images/WatsonCrick.jpg

 Mutation
A heritable change in DNA nucleotide sequence.

It changes the sequence of amino acids (structure and function of proteins).

Enzyme cannot catalyze.

X rays, Overexpose to sun (UV light), Chemicals (mutagens), or Viruses

However, some mutations are random events.

 Effect of Mutation

Somatic cell (nonreproductive cell):

Altered DNA will be limited to that cell and its daughter cells. Cancer

Germ cell (reproductive cell like an egg or sperm):

All new DNA will contain the same default

and it is passed on to the next generation. Genetic diseases