Nucleic Acids (Master Molecules)

Functions of Nucleic acids

1) To pass on hereditary characteristics from one generation to the next.

2) To trigger the manufacture of specific proteins.

Types Nucleic acids

All living things, from viruses to human contain nucleic acids. There are two
types of nucleic acids;
a) Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (=DNA)
b) Ribo Nucleic Acid (=RNA)

DNA is mainly found in the nucleus, mitochondria, plastids. RNA is

found in nucleus, cytoplasm and in some organelles like ribosomes.

Nucleic acids are made up of Nucleotides.

Structure of a nucleotide:

It is composed of 3 units.

a) Phosphate group

b) Sugar group

c) Base group
 c) Base Group (Nitrogenous base):

 Nucleotides are named according to their nitrogenous base.

Ex: Adenine nucleotide

 There are two groups of nitrogenous bases; Purines and

Pyrimidines

a) Phosphate Group:

 P group is identical in all nucleotides.

 Generally, it is phosphoric acid (H3PO4).

b) Sugar Group:

 Sugar in all nucleic acids is pentose sugar.

There are 2 kinds of pentose sugar ;

a) Deoxyribose b) Ribose.

 Nucleic acids are named according to their sugar molecule.

Ex: Deoxyribose is found in DNA.

Ex: Ribose is found in RNA.

  Purine bases are Adenine (A), Guanine (G).

 Amount of the water molecules that are released during the

n – 1 = Wat
formation of a nucleic acid chain is calculated with the following
formula:

amount

“n” is the nucleotide number in a chain.

Classification of Nucleic acids

1- DNA

 Pyrimidine bases are Cytosine (C), Urasile (U) and Thymine (T)
  This equation was found by Ervin Chargaff and thus it is known as
the “Chargaff Rule”

Structure of DNA

 Every time, 1st strand of DNA is a template for the 2nd one because
every time nitrogenous bases make definite couples with each other
during replication.

 These base couples link each other by hydrogen bonds.

 Between each couple of A and T 2H bonds are formed. On the

other side between each couple of G and C 3H bonds are formed.

and

DNA has two functions :

1- DNA stores genetic information and provides
genetic continuity through generations by
replication

2- DNA regulates all the metabolic activities in a

cell directly or indirectly by protein synthesis.
 H Bonds are weak bonds and they can be easily broken. This
results in easy replication of DNA.

 Since 1A links to 1T and 1G links to 1C; A number is equal to T 2- RNA

number where G number is equal to C number. Knowing these
facts the following equations can be written about a DNA
General characteristics of RNA:
molecule;
 1- … is a single stranded nucleic acid.
2- … cannot replicate itself but can be replicated under the control of
DNA.
3- It’s special sugar is Ribose sugar
4- It’s special base is Uracil
5- It is found in nucleus and in cytoplasm (free or attached to
ribosomes) in a cell.

Classification of RNA
There are 3 different types of RNA;

a) m-RNA (messenger RNA)

b) r-RNA (ribosomal RNA)

c) t-RNA (transport RNA)

 b) t-RNA…

 It transports free amino acids to ribosomes.

c) r-RNA…

 It does not have an active role in protein synthesis. But it only takes
part in the structure of ribosomes.

a) m-RNA…

 It carries genetic information from nucleus (DNA) to cytoplasm

(Ribosomes)

 Synthesis of mRNA is named as transcription.

 mRNA leaves the nucleus and transmits the message to a ribosome

in cytoplasm for protein synthesis

In protein synthesis, formation of a protein molecule is named as

translation. The illustrations below show the translation of the information
on mRNA.