Biology 12-1.2E Nucleic Acids

RNA

ribonucleic acid (RNA) is nucleic acid produced from covalent bonding of nucleotide monomers that contain the sugar ribose; occurs in three forms: Messenger RNA, Ribosomal RNA, and Transfer RNA.

What are the three main parts of Nucleotides?

1) A phosphate group (phosphoric acid) 2) A pentose (5 carbon) sugar (DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose and RNA contains the sugar ribose) 3) A nitrogen-containing base

Both nucleic acids are composed of many nucleotides. Nucleotides are composed of three main parts. Name these three parts.

1. a phosphate group (phosphoric acid) 2. a pentose sugar (DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose and RNA contains the sugar ribose) 3. a nitrogen-containing base

Nucleic acid

A complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.

Nitrogenous base

A nitrogen containing molecule that has the same chemical properties as a base. They are particularly important since they make up the building blocks of DNA and RNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil.

Why must ATP molecules be created in a cell? Why can't glucose molecules be used on their own?

ATP molecules must be created in a cell because a glucose molecule contains too much energy to be used as a direct source in cellular reactions.

What are the four types of nitrogen-containing bases?

Adenine(A), Guanine(G), Cytosine(C), and Thymine(T).

What is ATP?

Adenosine Triphosphate is a high-energy molecule that releases the energy required for all the metabolic work done in the cell. It is composed of adenine (a nitrogenous base), a ribose 5-sided sugar, and three phosphate groups.

Nucleotides

Both types of nucleic acids DNA and RNA are composed of many nucleotides.

Complementary Base Pairing

DNA consists of two polynucleotide chains wound around each other to form a double helix. The two chains are held together by complementary base pairing; that is, specific bonding between A and T bases and between G and C bases on the two strands.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is nucleic acid that is found in cells. It is the genetic material that specifies protein synthesis in cells.

Nucleotide

Monomer of DNA and RNA consisting of a 5-carbon sugar bonded to a nitrogen-containing base and a phosphate group.

Once a molecule of ATP has been broken into ADP and phosphate, is it still available to be used in the cell? Explain.

No. These molecules can be recycled and used to produce more ATP in the mitochondria.

Adenine (A)

One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of DNA and RNA.

Guanine (G)

One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of DNA and RNA. Pairs with Cytosine.

Cytosine (C)

One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of DNA and RNA. Pairs with Guanine.

Thymine (T)

One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of DNA. Pairs with Adenine.

Uracil (U)

One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA. Pairs with Adenine.

How is energy created from an ATP molecule?

The last phosphate bond is hydrolyzed, leaving ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and an inorganic molecule of phosphate. The energy released in the process drives chemical reactions in cells.

Double helix

a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis, especially that in the structure of the DNA molecule.

DNA has four different types of bases (named bases because their presence raises the pH of a solution). Name these bases.

adenine (A), thymine (T) (in RNA, the base uracil (U) replaces the thymine), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).

Phosphate

an organic compound of phosphoric acid in which the acid group is bound to nitrogen or a carboxyl group in a way that permits useful energy to be released (as in metabolism).