Biochemistry · MU Sofia

6. Primary structure of Nucleic acids

Covers the linear nucleotide sequence of DNA and RNA, contrasting thymine with uracil, and the double helix of DNA against the single-stranded and folded forms of RNA. It then goes through mRNA, tRNA, rRNA and the minor RNA classes, with codon and cap-and-tail details, a tRNA cloverleaf, and a list of regulatory RNAs. It ends with agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and brief notes on sickle cell anaemia and phenylketonuria.

Inside: 17 sections · 6 labelled pictures · 10 flashcards · 7 min

Topic 6 of 70 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Biochemistry (Dental Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 17 sections, about 929 words (7 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.

In this note

  1. PRIMARY STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS
  2. DNA Primary Structure
  3. RNA Primary Structure
  4. CONFORMATION OF DNA AND DIFFERENT RNAS
  5. RNA CONFORMATION
  6. TYPES OF RNA AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE - MRNA
  7. MRNA MODIFICATIONS:
  8. TYPES OF RNA AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE - TRNA
  9. TRNA STRUCTURE
  10. TYPES OF RNA AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE - RRNA
  11. RIBOSOME STRUCTURE
  12. MORE TYPES…
  13. ELECTROPHORETIC METHODS FOR INVESTIGATION OF DNA AND RNA - AGAROSE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
  14. ELECTROPHORETIC METHODS FOR INVESTIGATION OF DNA AND RNA - POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS (PAGE)
  15. SICKLE CELL ANEMIA AND PHENYLKETONURIA - EXAMPLES OF MOLECULAR DISEASES
  16. PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU)
  17. IN CONCLUSION…

PRIMARY STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

The primary structure of nucleic acids refers to the linear sequence of nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule. This sequence determines the genetic information encoded within the molecule and is crucial for various biological processes.

DNA Primary Structure

  • In DNA, the primary structure is a sequence of nucleotides composed of adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
  • The sequence of nucleotides in DNA dictates the sequence of amino acids in proteins through the genetic code.

RNA Primary Structure

  • RNA primary structure is similar to DNA but with uracil (U) replacing thymine (T).
  • RNA molecules can be single-stranded or form complex secondary structures through intra-molecular base pairing.

CONFORMATION OF DNA AND DIFFERENT RNAS

DNA Conformation

  • DNA typically adopts a double helix conformation, with two anti-parallel strands coiled around each other.
  • The double helix structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs (A-T, G-C).

RNA CONFORMATION

  • RNA molecules can adopt various conformations, including single-stranded, double-stranded, and complex secondary structures such as hairpins, loops, and stems.
  • RNA secondary structures arise from intra-molecular base pairing, similar to DNA, but RNA can form more intricate structures due to its flexibility and ability to fold back on itself.

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