Chapter 5

Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

Nucleic Acid
NUCLEIC ACID
Nucleic Acid Nucleic acids store and transmit hereditary information

There are TWO types of nucleic acids:

Deoxyribonucleic Ribonucleic Acid

Acid (RNA)
(DNA)
The function of DNA is to Messenger RNA
provide instructions to (mRNA) is an RNA
create proteins, which in version of the gene
turn represents the genetic that leaves the cell
and hereditary information and moves to the
for life. cytoplasm where the
proteins are made.
SEE GRAPHIC
Nucleic Acid The molecular chain of command:
DNA > RNA > Protein
Nucleic Acid: Structure
Phosphodiester
bond

Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides are polymers
that are built from monomers
called Nucleotides.
A complete DNA molecule is
two strands of polynucleotides
bound together (double helix)
by a covalent bond
(Phosphodiester bond).
Nucleic Acid: Structure A Nucleotide is made up of 3
major components:
1. Phosphate functional
group (structural
component)
2. Sugar
(structural component)
3. Nitrogenous base
(instructional component)

Nucleoside = Sugar + Phosphate Group

Nucleic Acid: Structure
Nucleoside: Nitrogenous base

Pyrimidine 1 ring
s (C)
Cytosine
Thymine (T)
Uracil (U)

Purines 2 rings

Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Nucleic Acid: Structure
Pentose – 5 Carbons
Nucleoside: Sugar

Ribose (RNA) –
2nd Carbon has a
hydroxyl group.

Deoxyribose (DNA) –
2nd Carbon has just a
Hydrogen. Because the
structure has 1 less
Oxygen, this is where
De-Oxy-ribose gets its
name.
Nucleic Acid: Structure
Every polynucleotide is paired
with another nucleotide and
each base of a polynucleotide
has a complimentary base

DNA: RNA: DNA:

A–T A – T
T–A U – A
G–C G – C
C–G C – G

These are bound by Hydrogen bonds

The Double Helix formation

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