NUCLEIC ACIDS 2.

Nitrogen- Containing Heterocyclic

Bases
HISTORY
Friedrich Miescher (1844-1895) 5 nitrogen containing heterocyclic
• Swiss physiologist bases are nucleotide components.
• Discovered Nucleic Acids in 1869 while
studying the nuclei of WBC NUCLEIC ACID- 3 Pyrimidine-a monocyclic base with
found in cell nuclei and are acidic six-membered ring.
!!! Although nucleic acids are found
throughout a cell, not just in the nucleus. 2 Purine- a bicyclic base with fused
five- and six-membered rings.
Nucleic acid
•Polymer in which the monomer units are
nucleotides
•Polynucleotides Made up of C,H,O,N,P

Nucleotides: Building Blocks of Nucleic

Acids
• Three-subunit
molecule in which
a pentose sugar is
bonded to both a
phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing
heterocyclic base.

3. Phosphate
• Derived from phosphoric acid
(H3PO4) OH Phosphate residue is
attached to pentose sugar DNA/RNA
via the 5C by a phosphodiester link
acidic, Nucleic acid all residues in the
DNA/RNA
carry a
1. Pentose Sugars BASE negative
Sugar unit of a charge in
nucleotide is physiologic
either the pH.
pentose ribose or the pentose 2'-
deoxyribose
Nucleoside Formation
• Nucleoside → a two subunit molecule in
which a pentose sugar is bonded to a
nitrogen containing heterocyclic base.
RULE: • Base is always attached to Carbon 1
of the sugar
• Condensation reaction → A molecule of
water is formed as the 2 molecules bond
together.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• Nucleotide polymer in which each of the
monomers contains deoxyribose, a
phosphate group, and one of the
heterocyclic bases:
Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, or Thymine
.Found within the cell nucleus
• Primary function is the storage and
transfer of genetic information • This
information is used to control many
functions of a living cell

• DNA is passed from existing cells to new

cells during cell division
Nucleoside Formation
• Pyrimidine bases, suffix-idine is used
(cytidine, thymidine, uridine)

• Purine bases, the suffix-osine is used

(adenosine, guanosine) Prefix deoxy-
indicates that sugar unit is deoxyribose (no
oxygen)

Nucleotide Formation
• Phosphate group is attached to the sugar
at carbon 5 position via phosphoester
linkage
• Water molecule is produced formation

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

• Nucleotide polymer in which each of the
monomers contains ribose, a phosphate
group, and one of the heterocyclic bases:
Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, or Uracil.
Occurs in all parts of a cell
• Primary function is Synthesis of Proteins.
PRIMARY STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACID
1. Polynucleotide chains have sense or
directionality (3' unreacted hydroxyl
group and unreacted 5' phosphate
group)
 2. Polynucleotides have individuality •A-T, G-C
(nucleotide base sequence) Basis for
the different amino acids.

Base Pairing
• The size of the interior of the DNA double
helix, limits the base pairs that can
hydrogen bond to one another.

• Only pairs involving one small base (a Ribonucleic Acids

pyrimidine) and one large base (a purine)
correctly fit. -A-T, G-C, Types in the se A-C,
G-T
WATSON-CRICK MODEL
• Combination of two single strands
The sugar unit in the backbone of RNA is
ribose. In RNA, Uracil instead of thymine,
pairs with adenine.
• RNA is a single stranded molecule.
• RNA molecules are smaller than DNA
molecules.

• The Double Helix Sugar-phosphate

backbone outside, bases inside

• Bases form specific base pairs, held

together by hydrogen bonds Types of RNA Molecules
1. Heterogeneous nuclear RNA
(hnRNA)
2. Messenger RNA (mRNA)
3. Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)
4. 4. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
ANTIPARALLEL- Nature of two 5. Transfer RNA (TRNA)
polynucleotide chains in DNA double helix
means that there is a 5' end and a 3' end at Heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA)
both ends of double helix. •RNA formed by
DNA transcription.
COMPLEMENTARY BASES- Pairs of bases Post-transcription
in a nucleic acid structure that can processing converts
hydrogen bond to each other. the hnRNA to mRNA.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) -RNA that delivers amino acids to the sites
•RNA that carries instructions for protein for protein synthesis.
synthesis (genetic information) to the sites
for protein synthesis.

Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

•RNA that facilitates the conversion of
heterogeneous nuclear RNA to messenger
RNA.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

RNA that combines with specific proteins to
form ribosomes, the physical sites for
protein synthesis.

Transfer RNA (TRNA)