NUCLEIC ACIDS

Components of a nucleotide

DNA Nucleotides
The building blocks of DNA and RNA,
the nucleotides, are very similar. Both
have a sugar, phosphate and base.
However, RNA has a ribose sugar,
while DNA has a deoxyribose.

Deoxyribose
RNA
Nucleoside (sugar + base)

Nucleotide (sugar + base + phosphate group)

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Components of a nucleotide
Draw a nucleotide of DNA and one of RNA, using the shapes of a pentagon (sugar), circle
(phosphate), rectangle (base). Make sure to label all structures shown including the bonds:

DNA:

RNA:
Sugar–phosphate “backbone” of DNA and RNA
The individual nucleotides of a
DNA or RNA strand are linked
together to polymers in long
chains through a condensation
reaction (releasing water)
forming covalent bonds with a
characteristic sugar-phosphate
backbone.
DNA as a double helix made of two antiparallel strands
DNA is a double helix: It has two strands that twist around each other in an
antiparallel way. Each strand is made of single units called nucleotides. It has a
sugar-phosphate backbone. The bases join the two strands by hydrogen bonds.

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DNA as a double helix made of two antiparallel strands
Role of complementary base pairing
…describes the manner in which the nitrogenous bases of the DNA
molecules align with each other. Adenine always pairs with Thymine,
Guanine always pairs with Cytosine. Complementary base pairing
ensures regular arrangement and geometry within the double helix and
allows an exact copy to be made in a process called replication.

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Role of complementary base pairing
Complementary base pairing of nucleotides is dependent on
hydrogen bonding between matching bases.
A hydrogen bond is an
electrostatic force of
attraction between the
hydrogen which is
covalently bonded to an
electronegative atom (N, O,
F) and an electronegative
atom with a lone pair of
electrons.

Hydrogen bonds are

forming between
complementary base pairs
only, that is between
Guanine and Cytosine (3
H-bonds) and Adenine and
Thymine (2 H-bonds),
respectively.

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Comparing the structures of DNA and RNA
Comparing the structures of DNA and RNA

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Compare and contrast the structures of DNA and RNA
DNA RNA
Type of sugar

Number of strands

Type of bases
Differences

Relative length of
strands

Where found inside the

cell

Variety of Molecules

Type of molecule
Similarities

Function

Components

Bonds
Structure of a nucleosome
The DNA double strand coils around histone proteins to form nucleosomes.
This process of (called supercoiling) makes DNA denser, so takes up less
space in the nucleus. Nucleosome packing and supercoiling only takes
place in eukaryotic cells and usually during prophase of mitosis/meiosis.

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