Nucleic Acid Structure
Nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides, which consist of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. In DNA, the nitrogenous bases include adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T), while RNA substitutes uracil (U) for thymine. These nucleotides link together to form long chains, with the sugar-phosphate backbone providing stability and the sequence of nitrogenous bases encoding genetic information.
Sugar
Typically, this sugar has five carbons. i.e a pentose. These sugars, together with the phosphate groups found in nucleotides, combine to create a bond. The carbohydrate that is found in the biomolecule of DNA is deoxyribose, while the carbohydrate in the biomolecule of RNA is ribose.
The Group of Phosphates
In other words, they are the phosphates that are derived from the inorganic substance known as phosphoric acid. H3PO4. They establish an ester bond by combining forces with the sugars present in the nucleotides. Phosphate groups might show up in nucleic acids in a variety of different combinations.
Nitrogenous Base
Nitrogenous bases are organic molecules that form the building blocks of nucleic acids. These bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine (in DNA), and uracil (in RNA), pair up to form the genetic code.
Nucleic Acid – Definition, Function, Structure, and Types
The nucleic acid is an important molecule in living organisms. Nucleic acid functions as the blueprint for genetic information. Understanding the nucleic acid structure and functions helps in deciphering the genetic code, which contains instructions for building and maintaining living organisms.
In this article, we will cover nucleic acid definition, structure, functions, formula and more.
Table of Content
- Nucleic Acid Meaning
- Nucleic Acid Structure
- Sugar
- The Group of Phosphates
- Nitrogenous Base
- Nitrogenous Base of Nucleic Acids – Purine and Pyrimidine
- Purine
- Adenine
- Guanine
- Pyrimidines
- Thymine
- Cytosine
- Uracil
- Nucleic Acid Function
- Nucleic Acid Examples
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
- RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)