3.1 Nucleic Acids Mini Lecture Radjewski

Keep in mind • We will be covering DNA in extreme detail in a later chapter, so for now you just need to know the basic structure and functions.

Nucleic acids are polymers specialized for • storage • Transmission • use of genetic information.

• • Examples: DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid RNA = ribonucleic acid Monomers:

Nucleotides

Nucleotide Structure • 3 parts 1. Nitrogen Base 2. Pentose Sugar 3. Phosphate Group

Part 1: Nitrogen Bases • • Nitrogen Bases:

Pyrimidines

—single rings Purines— double rings

Part 2: Pentose Sugar

Part 3: Phosphate Group

How does a nucleotide make DNA/RNA?

• • Many Condensation reactions Bond is called phosphodiester bond

ATP – another type of nucleotide • • • Adenosine Tri Phosphate Energy currency in cells If it loses a phosphate group, it releases energy!

– Then we are left with Adenosine DiPhosphate and an inorganic phosphate group