Nucleic Acids

• What are the three components of nucleotides?

  Phosphate groups, pentose sugar, organic base

  
• How do nucleotides combine?

  By condensation reaction
• What is an example of a nucleotide?

  Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
• What is the major function of ATP?

  It provides energy for all bio-chemical reactions (universal energy currency)
• How many phosphate groups are in ATP?

  Three phosphate groups
• What is the pentose sugar in ATP?

  Ribose
• What is the organic base in ATP?

  Adenine
• What happens when bond X in ATP is broken?

  Energy is released for cellular use
• What enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP?

  ATPase
• What is produced when ATP is hydrolyzed?

  ADP and a phosphate group (Pi)
• What is phosphorylation?

  Adding a phosphate group to ADP
• How much energy is released when ATP is hydrolyzed?

  30.6kJ mol-1
• What type of reaction occurs when ATP is formed from ADP?

  Endergonic reaction
• Where is ATP produced in the cell?

  Cytoplasm, mitochondriaa (matrix and inner membranes) and in chloroplasts (thylakoid membranes).
• What are the uses of ATP in the cell?

  • Metabolic processes
  • Muscle contraction
  • Nerve transmission
  • Active transport
  • Secretion

  
• What is the advantage of ATP hydrolysis compared to glucose breakdown?

  • ATP releases immediate energy in one reaction
  • Only one enzyme is needed
  • Releases energy in small controlled amounts when and where needed
  • Soluble and easily transported e.g. from companion cell to sieve element in phloem.
• What is the structure of RNA?

  Single stranded polynucleotide
• What sugar does RNA contain?

  Ribose
• Which base replaces thymine in RNA?

  Uracil
• What is the function of mRNA?

  Carries genetic code from DNA to ribosomes
• What is the role of rRNA?

  Component of ribosomes for protein synthesis
• What is the structure of tRNA?

  Small single stranded molecule, clover leaf shape

  
• What is the function of tRNA?

  Transports amino acids to ribosomes

  
• What happens during DNA replication?

  DNA is copied to form identical molecules
• What enzyme catalyzes the addition of nucleotides during replication?

  DNA polymerase
• What is the semi-conservative hypothesis of DNA replication?

  Each strand acts as a template for new DNA

  
• What are the three components that make up a nucleotide?

  One or more phosphate groups, a pentose sugar, and an organic base containing nitrogen
• What is the name of the nucleotide that is the major energy currency of the cell?

  Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
• How is energy released from ATP?

  The enzyme ATPase breaks the bond between the middle and terminal phosphate group, releasing energy
• What is the formula for the reversible reaction that converts ATP to ADP and Pi?

  ATP + Water ⇌ ADP + Pi + Energy
• Where in the cell is ATP produced?

  ATP is produced in the cytoplasm, mitochondria, and chloroplasts
• What are the two types of nucleic acids?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
• What are the four organic bases found in DNA?

  Adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine
• What are the four organic bases found in RNA?

  Adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine
• How are the two polynucleotide strands of DNA oriented relative to each other?

  The polynucleotide strands are antiparallel to each other
• What is the name of the process where DNA is copied?

  DNA replication
• What is the semi-conservative hypothesis of DNA replication?

  Each DNA strand acts as a template for a new DNA strand, resulting in two identical DNA molecules

  
• What are the three main types of RNA and their functions?

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA): Carries genetic code from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis
  • Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): Component of ribosomes, the site of protein synthesis
  • Transfer RNA (tRNA): Transports amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis
• If a sample of DNA has 10% adenine, what percentage of the other bases must it have?

  10% thymine, 40% cytosine, and 40% guanine
• How does the function of DNA differ from the function of RNA?

  DNA stores and replicates genetic information, while RNA carries the genetic code to ribosomes for protein synthesis