Nucleic Acids

Information
storage

2006-2007
AP Biology
 Nucleic Acids
Function:
store & transmit genetic information
Examples:
RNA (ribonucleic acid) (rRNA, mRNA, tRNA)
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
 Supplies energy for synthetic reactions and for other energy-
requiring processes in cells
Structure:
monomers = nucleotides
Polymers = polynucleotides (DNA, RNA)

AP Biology
 Nucleotides
3 parts
nitrogen base (C-N ring)
pentose sugar (5C)
 ribose in RNA
 deoxyribose in DNA
phosphate (PO4) group

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 RNA & DNA
RNA
single nucleotide chain
DNA
double nucleotide chain
 N bases bond in pairs
across chains
spiraled in a double helix

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 Building the polymer

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 Nucleic polymer
Backbone
sugar to PO4 bond
 new base added to sugar of previous base
 polymer grows in one direction
N bases hang off the
sugar-phosphate backbone

Dangling bases?
Why is this important?

AP Biology
 DNA molecule
Double helix
H bonds between bases join the 2 strands
Adenine:: Thymine
(A-T)
Cytosine:: Guanine
(C-G)

RNA
o A-U (Uracil)
o G-C

AP Biology
 Information polymer
Function
series of bases encodes information
 like the letters of a book
stored information is passed
from parent to offspring
 need to copy accurately
stored information = genes
 genetic information

Passing on information?
Why is this important?

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 T
G A
T C
C A
A G
G
A
AP Biology T
C
 ATP
Adenosine triphosphate
Adenosine
 Composed of adenine and ribose
Triphosphate
 3 phosphate groups attached to
each other and the ribose
 ATP = High energy molecule
-supplies energy for muscle contraction and
nerve impulses
 ADP = Lower energy molecule (diphosphate)

+ +

AP Biology
 What are the complementary base
pairs for DNA?
A. A-T and G-U 86%
B. A-T and G-C
C. A-U and G-C
D. A-T and C-U

10%
5%
0%

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U

C
G-

G-

C-
G-

nd
nd

d
nd

an
Ta

Ta
Ta

U
A-

A-
A-

A-
AP Biology
 What is one difference between
DNA and RNA?
A. DNA has uracil and
81%
RNA does not
B. RNA is single
stranded and DNA is
double stranded
C. DNA has 4 bases and 5%
10%
5%
RNA has 5
D. DNA has a ribose

.
...
.
a.

a.
sugar and RNA does
...

RN
ed

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A
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RN
A

DN
DN
DN

AP Biology
 What are the 3 parts of a nucleotide?
A. 5 C sugar, carbon base, carboxyl 80%

group
B. 3 C sugar, nitrogen base,
phosphate group
C. 5 C sugar, nitrogen base, 10%
5% 5%
phosphate group
D. 5 C sugar, nitrogen base,

..

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..

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e.

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,.

e,
s

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ba

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hydroxyl group

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5
AP Biology
 Which of the following supplies cellular
energy for muscle contractions and nerve
impulses?
A. DNA 95%
B. RNA
C. ATP
D. ABC

5%
0% 0%

C
A
A

AB
AT
RN
DN

AP Biology
 Macromolecules
Review

2006-2007
AP Biology
 Carbohydrates
Structure / monomer
monosaccharide
Function
energy
raw materials
energy storage
structural compounds glycosidic bond
Examples
glucose, starch, cellulose, glycogen

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 Lipids
Structure
triglycerides, steroids, phospholipids, waxes
Function
energy storage
membranes
Sex Hormones
Insulation/protection

Examples
Saturated & unsaturated fat, steroids, waxes, phospholipids

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 Proteins
Structure / monomer
amino acids
levels of structure
 Primary
 Secondary
 Tertiery
 Quaternary
Function peptide bond
enzymes  defense
transport  structure
signals  receptors
Examples
digestive enzymes, membrane channels, insulin hormone,
actin and myosin, antibodies, collagen
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 Nucleic acids
Structure / monomer
nucleotide
Function
information storage
& transfer
Examples
DNA, RNA

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 PASSWORD

2006-2007
AP Biology
 Isomers
Functional group
hydrocarbon

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 monosaccharide
cellulose
polysaccharide

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 Glucose
Benedict’s solution
Iodine

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 Triglyceride
Phospholipid
Fatty acid

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 Nitric Acid
Secondary Structure
Tertiary Structure

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 Amino acid
R group
20

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 Polypeptide
Enzyme
Denature

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 Nucleotide
Deoxyribonucleic acid
adenine

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 Adenosine triphosphate
Cytosine
Double helix

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 Hemoglobin
Insulin
Keratin

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MONOSACCHARIDE AMINO ACID TRIGLCERIDE

STEROID PHOSPHOLIPID NUCLEOTIDE

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