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L1 Structure of DNA

The document provides an overview of nucleic acids, specifically DNA and RNA, detailing the structure and components of nucleotides, including purines and pyrimidines. It explains the formation of DNA through phosphodiester bonds and hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs. Additionally, it outlines the synthesis and breakdown of polynucleotides, emphasizing the roles of enzymes like DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase.

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humairah tasnim
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views

L1 Structure of DNA

The document provides an overview of nucleic acids, specifically DNA and RNA, detailing the structure and components of nucleotides, including purines and pyrimidines. It explains the formation of DNA through phosphodiester bonds and hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs. Additionally, it outlines the synthesis and breakdown of polynucleotides, emphasizing the roles of enzymes like DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase.

Uploaded by

humairah tasnim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1

Nucleic acids, DNA and RNA


2.1.3 a
Keywords: monomer, purine, pyrimidine

Lesson objectives:
• Describe the structure of
• a nucleotide
• deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• ribonucleic acid (RNA)
• Identify purines and pyrimidines and the type of pentose sugar
What is a nucleotide?
What did you learn at GCSE?
Nucleotide
Can you label the parts?
base
phosphate

deoxyribose

Ext. What is it called when many nucleotides become


linked?
GCSE Biology

DNA
• DNA is a polymer made up of repeating units called
nucleotides
• Each nucleotide consists of a common sugar and
phosphate group and one of four bases attached to
the sugar
• The bases are A, T, C and G
• A=T
Nucleotide
• C=G
phosphate

base

sugar
Forming DNA
Hydrogen bond

Deoxyribose

Phosphate

Base
Complimentary base pairing (A-T, C-G)
Complimentary base pairing
A= T
C=G

C G
A T
C G
A T
Spot the difference!
Nucleic Acids – DNA and RNA
DNA and RNA are polymers; the individual nucleotides
are the monomers that build up the polynucleotides.
• DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid
• RNA = ribonucleic acid
Nucleotides
DNA & RNA are made up of nucleotides (monomers) linked
in a chain.
Each nucleotide is made up of 3 parts:

phosphate

base

pentose sugar
You may have noticed the bases are different
shapes?
Purines and Pyrimidines
Purine – contains 2
carbon-nitrogen rings (A and G)
Pyrimidine – contains 1
carbon-nitrogen ring (T, C and
U)

PYrimidines = thYmine and cYtosine


Comparing RNA and DNA
RNA DNA

Ribose sugar

T and U

Strand
2
Polynucleotides
2.1.3 b
Keywords: polymer, synthesis

Lesson objectives:
Describe the synthesis and breakdown of polynucleotides by the
formation and breakage of phosphodiester bonds
Forming DNA
Hydrogen bond

Phosphodiester bond

Deoxyribose
antiparallel

Phosphate

Hydrogen
Base bonds
Complimentary base pairing (A-T, C-G)
Phosphodiester bonds
Condensation reaction

DNA
polymerase
enzyme
How could you break a
phosphodiester bond?
Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis
reaction
Summary questions
1. Describe how nucleotides are joined together in DNA (3 marks)
• Phosphodiester bond
• Between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the deoxyribose sugar
of the next
• Catalysed by DNA polymerase

2. Describe how two single polynucleotide strands are joined to


make a double helix (3 marks)
• Hydrogen bonding between base pairs
• Complimentary base pairing A-T and C-G
• Two antiparallel polynucleotide strands twist to form double helix
Phosphate
Deoxyribose sugar
Thymine

x
mRNA / messenger RNA

Hydrogen atom removed from the OH group of


the ribose sugar (carbon 3) on one nucleotide
The OH group removed from the phosphate
group on the other nucleotide
RNA polymerase
Phosphodiester bond
Condensation reaction

hydrolysis

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