Nucleic Acid ​
Polymer of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds
A.k.a. polynucleotide
Formed by dehydration
Function: stores & transmits hereditable information
[!abstract] Exon / intron
Exon: coding nucleotide sequence
Intron: non-coding nucleotide sequence
Types ​
Deoxyribonucleic acid ​
Abbr. DNA
Two strands in antiparallel (one from 3' to 5', the other from 5' to 3'), whose N-bases are held together by H-bonds
Pentose: deoxyribose
N-bases: C-G (triple H-bonds) & A-T (double H-bonds)
Functions:
- Makes up chromosomes and genes
- Directs DNA replication
- Directs RNA transcription
Ribonucleic acid ​
Abbr. RNA
One strand
Pentose: ribose
N-bases: C-G & A-U
Messenger ​
Abbr. mRNA
Directs protein translation
Structure:
- 5'-CAP
- Leader sequence
- Coding sequence
- Trailer sequence
- Poly (A) tail
Transfer ​
Abbr. tRNA
~90 nt
Acts as a delivery vehicle during protein translation
[!abstract] Anticodon
Sequence of 3 bases complementary to a codon on mRNA
Ribosomal ​
Abbr. rRNA
Makes up the structure of the ribosome
Ajitani Hifumi