DNA and RNA

Metabolism
Types of metabolisms
 DNA and RNA are polymers made up of
nucleotides.
• Every nucleotide is made up of 3 components.
• A pentose sugar
• A nitrogen containing organic base
• A phosphate group
 DNA and RNA nucleotides

• Key differences:

1.RNA has a ribose sugar instead of a

deoxyribose.

2.RNA has the base uracil instead of

thymine
polynucleotide chain
growth

 New nucleotides are added to the existing 3' end by a 3' 5'
phosphodiester bond (R - O - P - O - R).
 The original 5' end remains unmodified.
 Polynucleotides thus "grow" by modification of the 3' end, in the 5'3'
direction. Nucleic acid biochemical processes occur only in the 5'3'
direction.
Type of bases
 Metabolic Basis For Living
• A collection of chemical reactions that takes place in the body’s cells
that convert the food we eat into the energy needed to power
everything we do, from moving to thinking to growing is called as
metabolism.
What phases does metabolism involve-Anabolism
• The process of metabolism occurs in two
phases namely anabolism and catabolism.
• Monosaccharides form polysaccharides by
glycosidic bonds, amino acids form proteins
by peptide linkages, nucleotides form nucleic
acids by phosphodiester bonds.
• Anabolic reactions commonly are
condensation reactions where water is the
by-product of the reaction.
• The purpose of an anabolic reaction is to
form complex compounds. It absorbs energy
in this process and so is an endergonic
process.
 Catabolism
• Catabolism is the breakdown of
complex molecules into simpler
molecules.
• This occurs by the process of
hydrolysis where
macromolecules are broken
down into their respective
monomeric units.
• Hydrolysis reactions require the
consumption of water
molecules to break the bonds
within the polymer.
 ATP Adenosine triphosphate
• Catabolism and anabolism are linked by common building blocks that
catabolic reactions produce and anabolic reactions use.
• ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a nucleotide that functions as the universal
energy-storage molecule in living cells.
• During catabolic reactions, cells harness the chemical energy of foods and
store it in the bonds of ATP.
• When these bonds are broken, the chemical energy is released and used
by cells to drive anabolic reactions that might not otherwise occur.
ATP Adenosine triphosphate
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy-carrying molecule that
provides the energy to drive many processes inside living cells
• ATP is another type of nucleic acid and hence it is structurally very
similar to the nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA
• It is a phosphorylated nucleotide
• Adenosine (a nucleoside) can be combined with one, two or three
phosphate groups
• One phosphate group = adenosine monophosphate (AMP)
• Two phosphate groups = adenosine diphosphate (ADP)
• Three phosphate groups = adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
The structure of AMP, ADP and ATP
 During catabolic reactions, cells produce ATP by adding an inorganic phosphate group to the nucleotide adenosine
diphosphate (ADP) in an endothermic reaction.
 One mole of ATP stores approximately 30.5 kJ of energy under normal cellular conditions. During anabolism, the
reverse reaction occurs.
 ATP is broken down to form ADP and inorganic phosphate in an exothermic reaction.
 Approximately 30.5 kJ of energy is released from each mole of ATP.
Photosynthesis