Introduction to DNA and

DNA replication
 Gene and Genomes
• Basics of Genes
– Genetics: Study of inheritance and inheritable traits as
expressed in an organism’s genetic material
– In the middle of the nineteenth century, Gregor Mendel
formulated a set of rules to explain the inheritance of
biological characteristics.
– Each heritable property of an organism is controlled by a
factor called a ‘Gene’.
– Genes reside on chromosome and the functional unit of
heredity
– A gene consisted of DNA that coded for protein synthesis
that performed the functions associated with the phenotypic
expression of the gene.
• Genome
– The entire genetic complement of an organism
– Includes its genes and nucleotide sequences
Basic Concepts
• Gene
– Contemporary understanding:
– A segment on a DNA molecule
– Usually at a specific location (locus) on a
chromosome or plasmid
– Characterized by its nucleotide sequence
– Genes play three notable roles:
– To encode the nucleotide sequences of mRNA,
which in turn encodes the amino acid sequences of
proteins
– To encode the nucleotide sequences of tRNA or
rRNA
– To regulate the expression of other genes
The central dogma of molecular biology
 The store of the genetic information
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• DNA: the store of the genetic information deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA)

• It is the principal regulator of the cell physiology

• DNA contains the instructions for creation and functioning of

the organism, it acts as

• Template for replication

• Codes for proteins

 Composition of Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids are substances with high molecular weight ranging

from 1,286 to 3,000,000 daltons (# of basepairs x 650 daltons).

•They are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and

phosphorus.

• Nitrogen is from 15 to 16% while phosphorus is from 9 to 10%.

• On hydrolysis with either an enzyme or by heating with dilute

acids or alkalies, nucleic acids yields a group of compound known
as nucleotides.
 Why DNA is acid?

• DNA or RNA are called nucleic acids

because of the acidic nature of the phosphate
group attached to them.
• The phosphate group is negatively charged
because it donates protons in solution. An
acid is identified by its ability to donate
protons.
 Nucleic acids
DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, long, thread-like polymers
made up of a linear array of monomers called nucleotides
• “Energy rich” compounds
– Chemical signals
– Enzyme co-factors

• Nucleic Acids
– DNA and RNA
– Polymers of nucleotides

• All nucleotides contain three

components:
Nucleoside

1. A nitrogen heterocyclic base

2. A pentose sugar
Nucletide

3. A phosphate residue
– Without phosphate nucleotide
is called as nucleoside
 Nitrogenous bases A G

•2 purine bases
•Bases • Adenine: A
• Guanine: G
• Pyrimidines
• Purines

C T U

•2 pyrimidine bases
• Cytosine: C
• Thymine: T
• or Uracil: U
(in RNA, instead of Thymine)
 Pentose Sugar
• Carbons are numbered clockwise
1’ to 5’ 5
CH2

C 4 C1
Sugar
(deoxyribose)
C3 C2
 Ribose

• Carbons numbered: 5’
– 1’,2’,3’,4’,5’
• DNA – 2’ Deoxyribose 1’

sugar 4’
– 2’ deoxyribose – 2’
3’ 2’
position
– OH group is replaced
by H
 DNA Nucleotide

Phosphate
Group
O
5
O=P-O CH2
O
O
N
Nitrogenous base
C4 C
1
(A, G, C, or T)
Sugar
(deoxyribose) 3
C C2
 Polymer of Nucleotides

• nucleotides can be linked

– phosphates linked to 2 pentoses
– phosphodiester linkages
• Link PO4 at
– 5’ end to 3’ OH of next nucleotide

• chain has POLARITY

– distinct ends
• 5’ end
• 3’ end
– usually “read” 5’ -> 3’ 5’end: always has attached
phosphate groups
3’ end: free hydroxyl
(-OH) group