5.

5
- Each chromosome consists of 1 long DNA molecule that contains hundreds of genes
- One gene on DNA sequence directs the synthesis of mRNA
- Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis where the mRNA docks and releases info
- Even prokaryotes (which lack nuclei) use RNA
- Nucleic acids are macromolecules that exist as polymers called polynucleotides
- Each nucleotide is composed of: Nitrogenous base, pentose, and phosphate
- The portion of the group without the phosphate is called nucleoside
- 2 types of nitrogenous bases: Purines & Pyrimidines
- Pyrimidine has 6 membered ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms (which take up H+ from
solution, hence base)
- Cytosine, Thymine, and Uracil are all Pyrimidines
- Purines are larger, with a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring (Adenine
and Guanine)
- Thymine is only in DNA & Uracil is only in RNA, rest are in both
- The pentose connected to the nitrogenous base is ribose in the nucleotides of RNA and
deoxyribose in DNA
- We use symbol (prime) to distinguish carbons on the pentose from those on n-base
- Adjacent nucleotides are joined by covalent bonds called phosphodiester linkages
- DNA strand has a built-in directionality along its sugar-phosphate backbone, from 5 to
3
- For DNA, the two sugar-phosphate backbones run in opposite 5 3 directions from
each other, an arrangement referred to as antiparallel
- Both strands held together by hydrogen bonds