nucleic acids, atp, water and inorganic ions Flashcards
(41 cards)
what does DNA stand for?
deoxyribose nucleic acid
function of DNA
codes for seq. of amino acids in primary struc. of protein —> determines tertiary struc. & function of protein
shape of DNA polymer
double helix (2 polynucleotide strands)
monomer for DNA
nucleotide
what does a DNA nucleotide consist of?
-a deoxyribose sugar
-a nitrogenous base (A,T,C,G)
-a phosphate group
how is a polynucleotide created?
condensation reactions between deoxyribose of one nucleotide and phosphate group of another
what is the bond between a deoxyribose and phosphate group called?
phosphodiester bond (strong cov. bond —> ensures genetic code isn’t broken down)
how many h-bonds between c & g?
3
how many h-bonds between a & t?
2
how does the struc. of DNA relate to the function?
1) sugar-phosphate backbone —> gives it stable struc., protects bases & prevents them from denaturing
2) double stranded —> replication can occur using one strand as template
3) weak h-bonds —> easy unzipping of 2 strands in helix during replication
4) complementary base pairing —> identical copies can be made
shape of rna
& what it consists of
- a ribose sugar, a nitrogenous base (A, U, C, G) & a phosphate group
- short, single stranded nucleotide chain
function of rna
to copy & transfer the genetic code from dna in the nucleus to the ribosomes
what are the diff types of rna?
•mRNA
•tRNA
•rRNA
mRNA (messenger rna)
- copy of a gene from a dna strand
- created in nucleus —> leaves nucl. to carry copy of gene to ribosome in cytoplasm
shape of mRNA
- single-stranded
- shorted than dna –> allows it to leave the nucleus
tRNA (transfer rna)
- only found in cytoplasm
- function —> attaches to a free amino acid & transfers it to the ribosome to create a polypeptide chain
- specific aa’s attach to compl. trna mols —> the 3 trna bases are compl. to the 3 mrna bases —> anticodon compl. to codon
shape of tRNA
single-stranded but folded to make a clover-leaf shape
rRNA (ribosomal rna)
combines with proteins to form ribosomes
diffs between rna & dna
monomers:
* dna has thymine, rna has uracil
* dna has deoxyribose, rna has ribose
polymers:
* dna large, rna short
* dna double stranded, rna single stranded
when does dna replication occur?
in interphase, before mitosis/meiosis
process of semi-conservative replication
edit using mindmap
- dna helicase breaks h-bonds between compl. bases in DNA strand
- double strand separates, 1 strand acts as a template strand
- free nucleotides join to exposed, compl. bases on template strand
- phosphate group joined to deoxyribose –> formation of sugar-phosphate backbone catalysed by DNA polymerase
evidence for semi-cons. repl.
-bacterial dna replicated in 2 types of nitrogen isotopes (nitrogen found in bases of dna)
-15N = heavy iso. & 14N = light iso.
-dna from 15N would have high density, dna from 14N would have low density
-exp —> 15N bacteria replicated in environment of 14N bacteria —> produces dna mols with half 15N/half 14N —> has medium density
what does atp stand for? what is it?
•adenosine triphosphate
•energy carrier mol. (delivers energy for life processes)
struc. of atp & how it’s formed
- a ribose sugar, an adenine base & 3 phosphate groups
- formed via a condensation reaction between adp + pi , uses atp synthase enzyme
(occurs during respiration, energy used)