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Chemistry, Structure and Functions of Nucleic Acid

The document discusses the chemistry, structure, and functions of nucleic acids, specifically DNA and RNA, which are composed of nucleotide monomers. It details the primary and secondary structures of DNA, including its double helix formation and the role of histones, as well as the various types of RNA and their functions in protein synthesis. Additionally, it emphasizes the clinical importance of nucleic acids.

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20 views22 pages

Chemistry, Structure and Functions of Nucleic Acid

The document discusses the chemistry, structure, and functions of nucleic acids, specifically DNA and RNA, which are composed of nucleotide monomers. It details the primary and secondary structures of DNA, including its double helix formation and the role of histones, as well as the various types of RNA and their functions in protein synthesis. Additionally, it emphasizes the clinical importance of nucleic acids.

Uploaded by

faroukoyekanmi26
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chemistry, Structure and

Functions of Nucleic Acid

Dr. A.Z. LAWAL,

MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT,


COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, LAUTECH,
OGBOMOSO.
 Non-protein nitrogenous substances made up of a monomeric unit
called a nucleotide

 Two different types of nucleic acids exist in living organisms:

 Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA

 Ribonucleic acid RNA.

 The monomeric unit of DNA is deoxyribonucleotide while that of


RNA is ribonucleotide.
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)

 DNA is a polymer of deoxyribonucleotides found in


chromosomes, mitochondria and chloroplasts.

 The nuclear DNA is found bound to basic proteins called


histones.

 DNA is present in every nucleated cell and carries the


genetic information.

 It is conveniently isolated from viruses, thymus gland,


spleen, leucocytes, etc.
HISTONES
 Small family of closely related basic proteins in chromatin

 TYPES OF HISTONES
 Nucleosomes Contain four types of histones:
 H2A,
 H2B,
 H3
 H4,
 They are called core histones.

 The structure of all four types of histones are highly conserved between
species

 The extreme conservation implies that the function of histones is identical


in all eukaryotes.
 Interaction of histones:

 The four types of histones interact with each other


in very specific ways as follows:

 H3 and H4 form a tetramer containing 2


molecules of each (H3H4)2

 H2A and H2B form dimers (H2A–H2B)


 Under physiological conditions, these histone
oligomers associate to form the histone octamer
of the composition (H3H4)2(H2A–H2B)2

 This association of histone octamer with DNA


protects the DNA from digestion by a nuclease
Structure of DNA
There are two types DNA structure namely:
 Primary Structure
 The primary structure is the number and sequence of
different deoxyribonucleotides in its strands joined
together by phosphodiester linkages

 The backbone of the primary structure is the linear


strand of interconnected sugar phosphate residues

 The purine or pyrimidine connected with the sugar


residue projects laterally from the backbone
 Chromosomal DNA consists of very long DNA molecules
(MW 1.6 × 106 to 2 × 109)

 Each DNA is a polymer of about 1010 deoxyribonucleotides.

 Normally there are four different types of


deoxyribonucleotides:
 Adenine deoxyribonucleotide (dA),
 Thymine deoxyribonucleotide (dT),
 Guanine deoxyribonucleotide (dG),
 Cytosine deoxyribonucleotide (dC).
 Nucleotides of each of the two helical strands are bound to
each other by covalent 3’-5’ phosphodiester linkage

 Each such bond is formed by the ester linkages of a single


phosphate residue with the 3’ –OH (i.e. C – 3’ –OH group
of the ribose sugar) of one nucleotide with the C – 5’ –OH
group of ribose of the next nucleotide.

 This kind of bonding gives rise to a linear


polydeoxyribonucleotide strand with 2 free ends on both
sides
 Secondary Structure of DNA
 Consists of a double stranded helix formed by the two
polydeoxyribonucleotide strands around a central axis
 This type of model was first proposed by Watson and Crick
1953

 DNA is a double helix


 Each of its two strands is coiled about a central axis, usually a
right handed helix

 The two sugar phosphate backbones wind around the outside


of the bases like the banisters of a spiral staircase and are
exposed to the aqueous solution
 The phosphodiester bonds in the two interwoven strands run in opposite
directions (strands are called antiparallel)

 The polarity of the two strands will be 3’ – 5’ and 5’ – 3’

 The 3’ – 5’ strand is called coding or “template strand” and 5' – 3' strand is
called noncoding ‘strand

 The aromatic rings of bases are hydrophobic and they are stacked in the
interior, nearly perpendicular to the long axis of the helix

 Adenine base of one strand of DNA is hydrogen bonded to a thymine in


the opposite strand; while the guanine is hydrogen bonded to a cytosine
 The hydrogen atoms in the bases of DNA can shift from one ring nitrogen
or oxygen atom to another

 These proton shifts called tautomerisation reactions—interconvert the


positions that can serve as hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors in base
pairs

 There are two hydrogen bonds present between Adenine and Thymine
while three hydrogen bonds are present between Guanine and Cytosine

 The ratio of purine to pyrimidine bases in the DNA molecule is always


around 1 (i.e. G + A/T+C ≈1). This is known as Chargaff’s rule
Types of DNA
 DNA can exist in several conformations
depending upon the base composition and under
different physical conditions:

 B-DNA

 A-DNA

 Z-DNA
Denaturation of DNA

• DNA double helix can separate or unwind during DNA


replication, RNA transcription and genetic recombination

• Complete unwinding of DNA can occur in vitro and is


called denaturation of DNA or it is also known as a helix
to coil transition

• Denaturation occurs when the hydrogen bonds between


bases break and the base pairs separate when DNA is
treated above a certain temperature or melted
RIBONUCLEIC ACID (RNA)

 A polymer of ribonucleotides of Adenine, Uracil,


Guanine and Cytosine, joined together by 3’ – 5’
phosphodiester bonds

 Thymine is absent in RNA

 RNA is found in the nucleolus, Nissl granules,


ribosomes, mitochondria and cytoplasm.

 The pentose sugar of the nucleotide is D-ribose


Structures of RNA

 Primary Structure of RNA

 The primary structure of RNA is defined as the


number and sequence of ribonucleotides in the
chain

 Each linear strand is held together by the


ribonucleotides bound to each other by 3’,–5’
phosphodiester bonds joining 3’–OH of one
nucleotide with the 5’–OH of the next
 Secondary Structure of RNA
• The secondary structure of RNA involves various coil formation of
the polyribonucleotide chain

• Coil structures stabilised by hydrophobic interactions between the


purine
and pyrimidine bases.
• There are intra chain hydrogen bonds between GC and A-U

• The hydrogen bonds are the same as in DNA for G–C while N3 as
well as C4 oxo group of uracil (or dihydrouracil) which pairs with
adenine
 Tertiary Structure of RNA
• The tertiary structure of RNA involves the
folding of the molecule into three-dimensional
structure

• The crosslinking also occurs at various sites


stabilised by hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds
producing a compactly coiled globular structure
Types of RNA

 There are mainly three types of RNA found in human beings:

 Messenger RNA or m-RNA

 Transfer or soluble RNA or t-RNA

 Ribosomal RNA or r-RNA

 The main function of each of these RNA is protein


synthesis
Assignment
 Highlight clinical importance of nucleic acid

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