Nucleic Acid

NUCLEIC ACID
NUCLEIC ACID
• Building blocks of living organisms
• One of the four important biomolecule
• 1st isolated from the nuclei of white blood cells by
Friedrich Miescher (1860)
• Came from the word “nuclein” = describe a weak
acidic substance found in the cell nuclei
• Composed of the elements: CARBON, HYDROGEN,
OXYGEN, NITROGEN and PHOSPHORUS
• Responsible for encoding, transmitting, and
expressing genetic information
• Serve as the BLUEPRINT of life
• Formed from POLYMERIZATION of nucleotides
NUCLEOTIDE
• Building blocks of nucleic acid
• Three components:
a) a PHOSPHORIC acid molecule
phosphate (PO43-)
b) a five carbon sugar molecule,
PENTOSE
c) a molecule of NITROGEN-
containing base
NUCLEOTIDE
Formed from a series of condensation
reactions having the following
characteristics:
a) Condensation occurs between
sugar & base, & between sugar &
phosphate
b) The base is always attached at the
carbon-1’ (C-1’) position of the
sugar. For purine bases,
attachment happens through
nitrogen-9 (N-9); for pyrimidine
bases through N-1
c) The phosphate group is connected
to the C-5’ position of the sugar
Deoxyribose acid (DNA) is the first type of nucleic acid.
• Different from RNA due to the

SUGAR molecule
• Prefix “deoxy” – indicates a
removal of oxygen atom
(oxygen atom is removed from
a carbon atom of the sugar
ribose)
Deoxyribose acid (DNA)
• Prominent feature is its

DOUBLE-HELIX structure (two
chains that are coiled
together; the bases are in the
interior of the coils)
• Held together by H bonds
between the bases
• Nitrogen-containing bases:
PURINE & PYRIMIDINE
• 2 Purine bases: Adenine (A)
and Guanine (G)
• 2 Pyrimidine bases: Thymine
(T) and Cytosine (C)
• The double-helix comes apart

when a cell divides
• Each chain contains the same
genetic information and
becomes a template for the
production of a new
complementary chain
(GENETIC REPLICATION)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
• Single-stranded
• Essential in the process of
building proteins from DNA
• 3 types of RNA
a) TRANSFER RNA (tRNA)
b) MESSENGER RNA (mRNA)
c) RIBOSOMAL RNA (rRNA)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is the second type of nucleic acid.
• Employs the same base pairing

except for thymine: Cytosine-
Guanine; Adenine-Uracil
• GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION is the
process by which a DNA
sequence is copied to produce a
complementary strand of RNA by
way of mRNA.
• The 3 bases of code are known
as CODON and their
complementary in the tRNA are
called ANTICODON
Linear progression of information from DNA to RNA to Protein
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
• The 3 bases of code are known

as CODON and their
complementary in the tRNA
are called ANTICODON
The Genetic
Code in
mRNA
There are two types of nucleic acids.
http://www.diffen.com/difference/DNA_vs_RNA
DNA RNA
Deoxyribonucleic Acid Ribonucleic acid
A nucleic acid that contains the A single-stranded chain of alternating

genetic instructions used in the phosphate and ribose units with the
development and functioning of bases ADENINE, GUANINE, CYTOSINE,
DEFINITION all modern living organisms and URACIL bonded to the ribose.
(scientists believe that RNA may RNA molecules are involved in
have been the main genetic protein synthesis and sometimes in
material in primitive forms) the transmission of genetic
information.
DNA RNA
Medium of long-term storage and Transfers the genetic code needed for
JOB/ROLE transmission of genetic the creation of proteins from the
information nucleus to the ribosome.
UNIQUE • Helix geometry – B-form • Helix geometry – A-form

FEATURES • Completely protected by the • Strands are continually made,
body, the body destroys broken down, and reused
enzymes that cleave DNA • More resistant to damage by ultra
• Can be damaged by exposure violet rays
to ultra violet rays
DNA RNA
PREDOMINANT Double-stranded molecule with A single-stranded molecule in most of

STRUCTURE long chain of nucleotides its biological roles and has a shorter
chain of nucloetides
BASES • Deoxyribose sugar • Ribose sugar

AND • Phosphate backbone • Phosphate backbone
SUGARS • Four bases: Adenine, Guanine, • Four bases: Adenine, Guanine,
Cytosine, Thymine Cytosine, Uracil
There are two types of nucleic acids. http://www.diffen.com/difference/DNA_vs_RNA
DNA RNA
PAIRING OF A-T (Adenine-Thymine) A-U (Adenine-Uracil)
BASES G-C (Guanine-Cytosine) G-C (Guanine-Cytosine)
• Deoxyribose sugar is less • Ribose sugar is more reactive
reactive because of C-H bonds because of the C-OH (hydroxyl)
STABILITY • Stable in alkaline conditions bonds
• Has smaller grooves which • Has larger grooves, which makes it
makes it harder for enzymes to easier to be attacked by enzymes
“attack” DNA
PROPAGATION • Self-replicating • Synthesized from DNA when
needed

Nucleic Acid

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NUCLEIC ACID

• Different from RNA due to the

• Prominent feature is its

• The double-helix comes apart

• Employs the same base pairing

• The 3 bases of code are known

A nucleic acid that contains the A single-stranded chain of alternating

UNIQUE • Helix geometry – B-form • Helix geometry – A-form

PREDOMINANT Double-stranded molecule with A single-stranded molecule in most of

BASES • Deoxyribose sugar • Ribose sugar

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