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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.
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