Nucleic Acids

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
COURSE CODE: ANS311
COURSE TITLE: AGRICULTURAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND METHODS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
Nucleic acids are biopolymers, or small biomolecules, that play a fundamental role in living
organisms as a store of genetic information that are transferred from parent to offspring; they are
the means by which this information is utilized in the synthesis of proteins. They are composed
of nucleotides, which are monomers made of three components: a pentose sugar (ribose or
deoxyribose), nitrogenous bases (purines and pyrimidines) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4).
The major pyrimidines found in nucleic acids are cytosine, thymine and uracil.
The relationships between these compounds and the parent material, pyrimidine, are
Shown in the below structures:
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Formation of Nucleoside and Nucleotides
Nucleosides are combinations of a base with a sugar. A nucleoside is the compound formed by
linking one of the above nitrogenous bases to a pentose sugar (usually ribose or deoxyribose).
For example:
Ribonucleosides
Adenine + Ribose = Adenosine
Guanine + Ribose = Guanosine
Cytosine + Ribose = Cytidine
Uracil + Ribose = Uridine
Deoxyribonucleosides
Adenine + Deoxyribose = Deoxyadenosine
Guanine + Deoxyribose = Deoxyguanosine
Cytosine + Deoxyribose = Deoxycytidine
Thymine + Deoxyribose = Thymidine
Nucleotides
If nucleosides such as adenosine are esterified with phosphoric acid they form nucleotides, e.g.
adenosine monophosphate (AMP):
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DNA nucleotides are more stable to acid hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond, which is one reason
that DNA has superseded RNA as the main genetic storage molecule; it is less prone to mutation.
Types and Functions of Nucleic Acids

*There are two types of nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, and ribonucleic acid or
RNA.
*DNA stores genetic information used for the synthesis of proteins including enzymes and is
found in the nucleus and mitochondria.
*RNA has several functions and is found in the nucleus, cytosol and mitochondria.
*Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic information obtained from DNA to sites that translate
the information into a protein.
*Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries activated amino acids to sites where the amino acids are linked
together to form polypeptides.
*Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a structural component of ribosomes, which serve as the sites for
protein synthesis.
*Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is a component of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles.
*These particles process heterogeneous RNA (hnRNA, the immature form of mRNA) into
mature mRNA.
*In some viruses, HIV, influenza, polio, RNA functions as the storage house of genetic
information.
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The structure of DNA
DNA is formed from two polynucleotide chains. Each chain has a helical structure (a helix), in
other words the molecule is coiled like a spring.
The two helices are then intertwined to give a double helix.
The bases are on the inside of the helix and the phosphate groups are on the outside.
The two helices are held together by pairing of the nucleotides' bases through hydrogen bonding.
Because the double ring purines are bigger than the single ring pyrimidines the structure can
only form with purine bases opposite pyrimidine bases. A big one complements a little one to
take up about the same space.
The structure is sometimes described as a ladder where the sugar-phosphate chains are the sides
of the ladder and the base-base bonds are the rungs. Intermolecular forces twist the ladder into a
double helix shape.
The structure of RNA

The structure of RNA differs fundamentally from that of DNA in three ways:
 It forms a single strand sugar-phosphate chain
 The sugar in its nucleotides is ribose
 The base thymine is replaced by the base uracil
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Although RNA is single stranded it can form helical loops by folding back on itself. Hydrogen
bonding between base pairs holds the strand in shape. This allows RNA to carry out its important
function in protein synthesis.
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DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

Types and Functions of Nucleic Acids

The structure of RNA

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