Study Set Content:
2 classes of nucleic acids:
DNA and RNA
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acids
RNA
(ribonucleic acids
stores and transfers genetic information
DNA
carry out protein synthesis
RNA
it serves as the template for the synthesis of new DNA and RNA
DNA
both DNA and RNA are
polynucleotides
polymers of nucleotides)
polynucleotides
: building blocks of nucleic acids
Nucleotides
Nucleotides composed of
Phosphate group
Sugar
heterocyclic ring system (heterocyclic base)
Heterocyclic base
Phosphate group
sugar
A unit consisting of a base bonded to a sugar is referred to as a
nucleoside
The sugar component of RNA nucleotides (or nucleosides) is
ribose
while that of DNA nucleotides (or nucleosides) is
2'-deoxyribose.
The difference between these two sugars is that deoxyribose is missing an
oxygen atom
The difference between these two sugars is that deoxyribose is missing an oxygen atom on carbon atom number
2
The sugars in nucleic acids are another by
phosphodiester bridges
Specifically,the 3-OH of the sugar moiety of one nucleotideisesterified to a
Phosphate group
