Nucleic Acid

Instructor: Merly C. Dela Cruz, RN, MAN

 Nucleic acids are also biopolymers found
in the nucleus of a cell.

 They are the chemical carriers of an

organisms genetic information.

 Nucleic acids have monomers called

NUCLEOTIDES.
 NUCLEOTIDES are the building
units of nucleic acids.
It is made up of:

 a. 5-carbon sugar
 b. phosphate group
(phosphoric acid molecule H3PO4)
 c. nitrogen containing organic base
(DNA and RNA)
Three characteristic components of nucleotides:
1. base
2. Sugar
3. phosphate
Functions of Nucleotides
1. Role in energy metabolism - ATP, an adenine
nucleotide is the universal currency of energy in
biological system

2. Monomeric units of nucleic acids - the

nucleotides are activated precursor of DNA and
RNA

3. Nucleotides are metabolic regulators - like

adenosine has been shown to cause dilation of
coronary blood vessels and therefore may be
important in the regulation of coronary blood flow.
NUCLEOSIDES
It consists of a purine or pyrimidine base linked to
a pentose.

The sugar in ribonucleoside is RIBOSE.

The sugar in deoxyribonucleoside is deoxyribose.

A nucleoside does not have phosphoric acid

molecule.
The major The major
ribonucleosides are: deoxyribonucleosides
are:
1. Adenosine
2. Guanosine 1. deoxyadenosine
3. Uridine 2. Deoxygaunosine
4. Cytidine 3. Deoxythymidine
4 Deoxycytidine
 Properties of Nucleosides
1. Free nucleosides occur only in trace amounts in
most cells, the products of chemical or enzymatic
hydrolysis of nucleotides.
2. Much more soluble in water than their corresponding
free bases.
3. They are relatively stable in alkali.
4. Purine nucleosides are rather easily hydrolyzed by acid
to yield the free base and the pentose.
5. Pyrimidine nucleosides on the other hand are
resistant to acid hydrolysis.
6. Both types of nucleosides are hydrolyzed by specific
nucleosides.
 TWO TYPES OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

1. DNA- deoxyribonucleic acid

2. RNA-Ribonucleic acids
Central Dogma in Molecular Genetics
 
Transcription Translation
DNA----------------RNA---------------Proteins
Translation- process in which the genetic
information carried by nucleotides in messenger
RNA directs the amino acid sequence in the
synthesis of specific polypeptide.

Transcription - process by which messenger

(RNA) is formed from a deoxyribonucleic
acid template.
 DNA
 It is the chromosomal material bearing the genetic
information of living cells.
Location in the cell—mostly found in the nucleus
Sugar present----deoxyribose
Nitrogenous bases--- Adenine, guanine, cytosine and
thymine
Secondary structure---usually double-stranded
Possible attachment of phosphoric acid—3’ and 5’ C of
the deoxyribose
 Functions of DNA
1. Store the complete genetic information required
specify structure of all the proteins and RNA’s of
each species of organism
2. Determine the individuality of a given organism
3. Determine the activities of an organism
throughout its life cycle
4. Program in time and space the orderly
biosynthesis of cell and tissue components
 Properties of DNA
1. Acid-base properties - The recurring
secondary phosphate groups of DNA, which
constitute the bridges between adjacent
mononucleotides, have a rather low pK and are
fully ionized at any pH above 4. DNA is thus
strongly Acidic.

2. Viscosity due to the rigidity of the double

helix and the immense length of DNA in relation
to its small diameter, even very dilute DNA
solutions are highly Viscous.
3. DNA is strongly dextrorotatory and is due to
the sugar component and the right-handed
helical structure This is changed when DNA is
denatured.

4. Ultraviolet absorption. All nucleic acids show

a strong absorption in the ultraviolet with a
maximum near 260 nm.

5. Double helical DNA may undergo

denaturation or unwinding.
 Changes brought about by
denaturation:
1. Viscosity of DNA solutions decreases

2. The light absorption at 260 nm increases

3. The optical rotation becomes more

negative
 RNA
They are much more abundant in most cells both
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Location in the cell-Mostly found in cytoplasm
Sugar present-ribose
Nitrogenous bases- Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine
and Uracil
Secondary structure---usually single-strand
Possible attachment of phosphoric acid-2.3 and
5 C of ribose
MAJOR CLASSES OF RNA
1. Messenger RNA - it is synthesized in the nucleus
during the process of transcription

2. Transfer RNA - it consist of a single strand of

ribonucleotides.

3. Ribosomal RNA - they are major components of

ribosomes and constitute up to 65% of their weight.
End…