Lesson 25.

Nucleic Acids
 recognize the major
categories of
Objectives 1
biomolecules, such as
carbohydrates, lipids,
At the end proteins, and nucleic
of the acids; and
lesson, you
should be explain the functions of
able to: 2 nucleic acids in the
processes of life.
 Learn about It!

Nucleic Acids
● Nucleic acids are biomolecules
that consists of repeating units
of nucleotides.

● They are named “nucleic acids”

because they were first
discovered in cell nucleus. Nucleotide structure
 Learn about It!

Nucleic Acids

● In 1952, Rosalind Franklin,

an English scientist, used a
method known as X-ray
crystallography to produce
the first-ever photographs of
the structure of DNA.

Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958)

 Learn about It!

Nucleic Acids

● A year later, the DNA’s

double-helix structure
was discovered by
James Watson and
Francis Crick thanks to
Rosalind Franklin’s
discovery. James Watson (1928–present) and
Francis Crick (1916–2004)
 Learn about It!

Nucleic Acid Structure

● Nucleotides are units with

three components:
○ a phosphate group,
○ a 5-carbon sugar, and
○ a nitrogen-containing base.
Nucleotide structure
 Learn about It!

Nucleic Acid Structure

● In contrast, a nucleoside is
a unit similar to a
nucleotide, but without the
phosphate group.

● Ester bonds link the

phosphate group to the Nucleotide structure
nucleoside.
 Learn about It!

Nucleic Acid Structure

● The nucleotides are linked

through phosphodiester
bonds.

● The nitrogen bases are linked

via hydrogen bonds. Nucleic acid Structure
 Learn about It!

RNA and DNA

● There are two kinds of

nucleic acid:
○ the ribonucleic acid
(RNA) and
○ the deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA).
RNA and DNA
 Learn about It!

RNA and DNA

● Ribonucleic acid has

ribose as its sugar.

● Deoxyribonucleic acid
has deoxyribose as its
sugar.
RNA and DNA
 Learn about It!

The Nitrogenous Bases

● Purine bases are ones

with two rings, and
pyrimidines have one.

● Purine bases bond with

pyrimidines.
Nitrogenous bases
 Learn about It!

The Nitrogenous Bases

● A rule known as
Chargaff’s rule states
that purines and
pyrimidines should be
found in equal ratios
within a cell.
Nitrogenous bases
 Learn about It!

Levels of Organization

● Primary structure refers to the sequence of nucleotides

that make up the strand whereas the secondary structure
refers to the bonding between the nucleotides.

● The tertiary structure refers to the positioning of the

structures of DNA, and how these affect the 3D structure.
 Learn about It!

Levels of Organization

● The quaternary structure refers to the interaction

between the nucleic acid and other molecules, which can
also include other nucleic acids.

○ An example of an interaction would be between DNA

and histones, which are proteins that help DNA in
becoming more compact.
 Learn about It!

Functions of Nucleic Acids

● DNA contains the genetic
instructions for the
development and
functioning of organisms.

● DNA plays a crucial role in

the process of gene
expression. Genes as segments of DNA
 Learn about It!

Functions of Nucleic Acids

● RNA has three types:
○ The mRNA carries the genetic sequence information
between the DNA and the ribosomes.

○ The rRNA catalyzes the peptide bond formation.

○ The tRNA serves as the carrier molecule of the amino

acids that make up the protein.
Key Points

Nucleic acids are biomolecules that are made up of

1 repeating units of nucleotides.

Nucleotides are units with three components: a

2 phosphate group, a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogen-
containing base.

There are two kinds of nucleic acid: the ribonucleic

3 acid (RNA) and the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
 Check Your Understanding

Identify the terms being described by each

statement below.
1. This the type of pentose sugar found in DNA molecules.
2. This the type of pentose sugar found in RNA molecules.
3. This is the nitrogenous base only present in DNA.
4. This is the nitrogenous base only present in RNA.
5. This nucleic acid is highly involved in the process of
translation.
 Challenge Yourself

Discuss briefly gene

expression and its
advantages and
disadvantages in
scientific research.
 Bibliography

Bowen, R.A. “The Structure of Proteins.” Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering. Accessed August 18,
2016. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/genetics/biotech/basics/prostruct. html.

Boyer, Rodney. 2006. Concepts in Biochemistry Third Edition. Danvers: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Brilliant Biology Student. Biuret’s Test for Proteins. http://brilliantbiologystudent.weebly.com/biuret-test-

for-protein.html

Carberry, Claudia. How to Make Homemade Whey Protein. https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-

Whey-Protein

Krempels, Dana. “The Plant Cell is Special.” Department of Biology, University of Miami. Accessed August
17, 2016. http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/226/226F07_3print.html.
 Bibliography

Martin, Laura J. “Antibody.” Medline Plus. Accessed August 17, 2016.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002223.htm.

Moyna, Guillermo. “Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids.” The Moyna Group. Accessed August 18, 2016.
http://tonga.usp.edu/gmoyna/biochem341/dec6.html.

Nelson, Carl. “Extract DNA with stuff you have at home.” Imagination Station. Accessed August 18, 2016.
http://imaginationstationtoledo.org/content/2012/04/extract-dna-with-stuff-you-have- at-home/.

Reusch, William. “Peptides & Proteins.” Natural Product Chemistry. Accessed August 18, 2016.
https://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/virttxtjml/protein2.htm.