Biochemistry · MU Plovdiv

3. Nucleic acids – types and biological role. Chemical composition – structure of nucleotides, chemical bonds. Free nucleotides of biological importance. Features of polynucleotide chains. Watson and Crick model. Primary structure of nucleic acids. Conformation of DNA and of the different types of RNA. Nucleosomes. Histone and nonhistone proteins. Denaturation and renaturation of DNA. Ribozymes, RNA maturation, microRNAs – role in the regulation of gene expression.

Inside: 32 sections · 10 labelled pictures · 25 flashcards · 14 min

Topic 3 of 71 in the MU Plovdiv syllabus for Biochemistry (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 31 sections, about 1,846 words (14 min of reading), with 25 flashcards.

In this note

  1. DNA & RNA - Biological Roles
  2. DNA and RNA: Fundamental Molecules of Life
  3. Chemical Composition
  4. Chemical Bonds Within Nucleotides and Between Them
  5. Non-Coding RNA (ncRNA)
  6. Hydrogen Bonding and Base Pairing
  7. PURINES VS PYRIMIDINES:
  8. Free Nucleotides and Their Biological Action
  9. Free Nucleotides with Important Biological Action
  10. Characteristics of Polynucleotide Chains
  11. Purine and Pyrimidine Analogs: Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents
  12. Antimicrobial Agents
  13. MCQ ☺
  14. ANSWERS:
  15. PRIMARY STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS
  16. DNA Primary Structure
  17. RNA Primary Structure
  18. CONFORMATION OF DNA AND DIFFERENT RNAS
  19. RNA CONFORMATION
  20. TYPES OF RNA AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE - MRNA
  21. MRNA MODIFICATIONS:
  22. TYPES OF RNA AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE - TRNA
  23. TRNA STRUCTURE
  24. TYPES OF RNA AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE - RRNA
  25. RIBOSOME STRUCTURE
  26. MORE TYPES…
  27. ELECTROPHORETIC METHODS FOR INVESTIGATION OF DNA AND RNA - AGAROSE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
  28. ELECTROPHORETIC METHODS FOR INVESTIGATION OF DNA AND RNA - POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS (PAGE)
  29. SICKLE CELL ANEMIA AND PHENYLKETONURIA - EXAMPLES OF MOLECULAR DISEASES
  30. PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU)
  31. IN CONCLUSION…

DNA & RNA - Biological Roles

  • Genetic Information Storage: DNA holds the instructions necessary for an organism's development and functioning.
  • Genetic Information Translation: RNA translates genetic information from DNA into proteins, the workhorses of the cell.
  • Regulation and Signaling: Certain forms of RNA act as regulators of gene expression, while nucleotides like ATP and GTP play critical roles in cell signaling and energy transfer.

DNA and RNA: Fundamental Molecules of Life

  • DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) are the two types of nucleic acids, essential for the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.
  • DNA is the carrier of genetic information in most living organisms, playing a crucial role in storing long-term information.
  • RNA is primarily involved in the synthesis of proteins, acting as the messenger between DNA and ribosomes to produce proteins, and has roles in gene regulation and the expression of genes.

Chemical Composition

  1. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid):
  2. 1. DNA consists of nucleotides composed of three main components: a phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar molecule, and a nitrogenous base.
  3. 2. Nitrogenous bases include adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
  4. 3. The sugar-phosphate backbone provides structural stability to the DNA molecule.
  5. RNA (Ribonucleic Acid):
  6. 1. RNA also comprises nucleotides with three components: a phosphate group, a ribose sugar molecule, and a nitrogenous base.
  7. 2. Nitrogenous bases in RNA include adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U).

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