Lecture 6

Nucleic acids
Nucleic Acids
• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and
phosphorus
• Carriers of the genetic code (recipe book for proteins)
• Two types: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA
(ribonucleic acid)
• Molecule responsible for heredity

store, transmit and express hereditary information

Introduction
The Central Dogma
of Molecular Biology

Cell

Transcription DNA

mRNA
Translation Ribosome

Polypeptide
(protein)
©1998 Timothy G. Standish
Nucleotide Monomers

Nucleic acids are composed of many monomers linked

together by dehydration synthesis.
These monomers are called nucleotides.
These monomers are composed of a monosaccharide
(deoxyribose in DNA or ribose RNA), a phosphate
group, and a nitrogenous base. The nitrogenous bases
found in DNA are adenine A, Thymine T, Guanine G,
and Cytosine C. The nitrogenous bases found in RNA
are Adenine A, Guanine G, Cytosine C, and Uracil U,
which replaces thymine.
Nucleotide Structure
DNA Structure
The structure of DNA was
discovered by an American
scientist (James Watson) and a
British scientist (Francis Crick)
based on the work of Rosalind
Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. In
1962 Watson and Crick received
the Nobel Prize for their work.
Wilkin later received a Nobel Prize
for work relating to his
contribution.
Rosalind Franklin however, never
received a Nobel Prize because
she died of cancer before she was
publicly recognized for her
contributions to this effort.
The Double Alpha Helix of DNA
DNA is a double stranded,
alpha helical molecule.
5’
Each strand is composed of
nucleotide covalently
bonded between their
phosphate groups and the
deoxyribose sugar
components in a 5-3 linkage
between the sugars and
phosphates.
The nitrogenous bases point
outward from the linear 3’
alternating sugar phosphate
backbone.
The Double Alpha Helix of DNA
When two strands of DNA join
to form the alpha helix, it is
due to hydrogen bonding
between the complimentary
purine and pyrimidine bases
on each complimentary
strand. Adenine forms
hydrogen bonds with
Thymine and Guanine forms
hydrogen bonds with
Cytosine.
This is called Complementary
Base Pairing.
The Double Alpha Helix of DNA
The complementary
strands run in opposite
directions or anti-
parallel to each other.
The Double Alpha Helix of DNA
The strands begin to spiral and due to hydrogen
bonding takes on the double alpha helix form.
A Nucleotide
Adenosine Mono Phosphate (AMP)
OH
Phosphate
- NH2
HO P O Base
N N
H +
H
O
H
5’ CH2
N N
Nucleotide O
4’ 1’
Sugar Nucleoside
3’ 2’

OH H
OH
 Purines Pyrimidines
NH2 O O
Thymine Uracil
Adenine CH3 (DNA) (RNA)
N NH NH
N
N N N O N O
O
NH2
Guanine
N Cytosine
NH
N
N N NH2 N O
Base Pairing
Guanine And Cytosine

N
-

O
+ H
N uan

Cyt
H N
G

o
sine
N
+
N H

-
in e

H
N
N

-O N
+
H
Base Pairing
Adenine And Thymine

H +

3
CH
H -
Adenine N Thymine

O
N

N N- +

N
H
N

O
Base Pairing
Adenine And Cytosine

H H+ + H

Cyt
N H N
Adenine

osine
N
- -
N N
N
N -O N
Base Pairing
Guanine And Thymine

3
CH
ym in e
N

- - Th
O

O
N uan
G

N
N
N

+ +
N H
ine

H
H

O
N

+
H
Comparing and Contrasting DNA and RNA

• DNA bases (A,T,G,C) • RNA bases (A,U,G,C)

• Deoxyribose sugar • Ribose sugar
• Original information for • Working copy for making
making proteins proteins
• One form or type • Variety of forms, m-RNA, t-
• Found primarily in the RNA, r-RNA
nucleus forms • Found in nucleus and
chromosomes during cell through the cell
division
• Smaller molecules (single
• Large molecule (double stranded)
stranded)
DNA RNA