NUCLEIC ACIDS

• Nucleic Acids


  Organic compounds that serve as genetic information storage molecules
• Nucleic Acids


  Provide information to make proteins
• Monomer of nucleic acids

  Nucleotides, which are made up of five-carbon sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base, arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix
• Types of Nucleic Acid

  • DNA
  • RNA
• DNA


  Double-stranded helix molecule that can serve as a protein for duplicating the sequence of bases
• RNA


  Essential for protein synthesis, usually consists of a single polynucleotide strand
• DNA and RNA


  The most prominent nucleic acids in the human body
• Main function of DNA and RNA

  To store information that is used by cells to maintain, repair, and reproduce cells
• Cellular processes and metabolic functions that require instructions from the DNA code

  1. Sent out of the nucleus as an RNA strand

  2. RNA becomes the messenger to transfer information needed to build proteins and other components of the cell

  3. DNA stays in the nucleus, thus, preventing external factors that may influence or change the code
• Mechanisms an organism may use to generate ATP

  • Substrate-level phosphorylation
  • Oxidative phosphorylation
  • Photophosphorylation
• Substrate-level phosphorylation


  An enzyme transfers a phosphate group from a donor molecule (the substrate) to ADP to form ATP
• Oxidative phosphorylation


  1. High-energy electrons are obtained by oxidation of organic compounds

  2. Passed down to electron transport chain

  3. Then to a final electron acceptor

  4. The energy released during electron movement down the electron transport chain is harnessed to make ATP by chemiosmosis
• Photophosphorylation


  1. Low-energy electrons are raised to a higher-energy level by light

  2. Passed down to electron transport chain

  3. Then to a final electron acceptor

  4. The energy passed during electron movement down the electron transport chain is harnessed to make ATP by chemiosmosis
• Sugar


  Basis of Comparison
• DNA


  Deoxyribose (C5H10O4)
• RNA


  Ribose (C5H10O4)
• Strand


  Basis of Comparison
• DNA


  • Double stranded
• RNA


  • Single stranded
• Nitrogenous base


  Basis of Comparison
• DNA


  • Adenine - Thymine
  • Guanine - Cytosine
• RNA


  • Adenine - Uracil
  • Guanine - Cytosine
• Location


  Basis of Comparison
• DNA


  • Mostly in the nucleus but may also be found in the cytoplasm and mitochondria
• RNA


  • Mostly in the cytoplasm but may also be found in the nucleus