1. NUCLEIC ACIDS

2. Learning Outcomes:
B4 - analyse the structure and function of nucleic acids
Recognize structural diagrams of: DNA, RNA, ATP
List the functions of DNA and RNA
Describe the structure of DNA in terms of nucleotides, base pairing, double helix
Compare the structure of DNA and RNA
Relate the structure of ATP to its function

3. ELEMENTS
C, H, O, N, P

4. MONOMERS Nucleotides - have 3 parts: 5-carbon sugar
Phosphate group (PO4)
Nitrogenous base (ring structure, contains C,N,H)

5. The 5 nitrogenous bases Purine bases (2 rings): Adenine Guanine
Pyrimidine bases (1 ring):
Cytosine
Thymine
Uracil

7. POLYMERS Nucleotides join together in long chains called nucleic acids
The two important nucleic acids in cells are DNA and RNA

8. DNA -deoxyribonucleic acid
Double stranded
Sugar is deoxyribose
4 nitrogen bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine (A,T,C,G)
Complementary base pairing - Hydrogen bonds form between A & T, C &G
The two strands are “antiparallel” – oriented in opposite directions

10. The DNA molecule forms a double helix (“twisted ladder”)
“rungs” are base pairs, connected by hydrogen bonds
Sides are alternating sugar – phosphate groups

12. RNA - ribonucleic acid Single stranded Sugar is ribose
4 nitrogen bases - adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine (A,U,C,G)

16. FUNCTIONS
DNA stores genetic material in the nucleus (instructions for protein synthesis)
RNA functions in protein synthesis (decoding DNA) in the nucleus and cytoplasm (ribosomes)
Together they determine the primary structure of all proteins made in the body

17. ATP
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) - a special nucleotide found in all cells
Adenine base, ribose, 3 phosphate groups

18. ATP is the “energy molecule”
produced during cellular respiration
used whenever energy is required

19. ATP contains high energy bonds between the phosphate groups
Energy is released when the bonds are broken
ADP is produced when 1 phosphate is removed

20. ATP + H2O ↔ ADP + phosphate + energy
This energy can be used for many different
cell / body functions (examples?)
ATP / ADP are continuously recycled in cells