The Chemistry of Life Nucleic Acids Ms. Richardson - SBI4U
Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are found in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), ATP and nucleotide coenzymes (NAD+, NADP+ and FAD). DNA and RNA are nucleotide polymers. Nucleotides consist of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar and a phosphate group. The nitrogenous bases are: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T) and uracil (U).
Phosphodiester linkage Nucleotides Phosphodiester linkage (made of a link between phosphate group and hydroxyl group at adjacent sugar’s carbon 3)
Nitrogenous Bases Pyrimidines Purines
Sugars
Nucleic Acids In DNA, A bonds with T with 2 hydrogen bonds, and G bonds with C with 3 hydrogen bonds. The two strands are antiparallel (one strand is upside down compared to the other).