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Structure of Nucleic Acids

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Structure of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are polymers (chains) of nucleotides. The most common nucleic acid chains are RNA and DNA. These structures are the essential components for life. They contain the genes that are translated into proteins. Each section of a nucleic acid is a nucleotide, which is comprised of a phosphate, sugar and a nitrogenous base.

  1. Bases

    • The nitrogenous bases for DNA are guanine, cytosine, adenine and thymine. RNA does not contain thymine. In place of thymine, RNA uses uracil.

    The Backbone

    • Nucleic acids have a backbone that is on the outside of the double helix. The backbone contains a sugar and a phosphate. The backbone protects the inside where the bases hydrogen bond to form the double helix.

    Nucleotide Chains

    • The chains are bonded using phosphodiester bonds. The bonds are located on specific carbons on the sugar-phosphate backbone. The bonds are between the 3' carbon of one nucleotide and the 5' of the other.

    Base Pairing

    • Base pairing is specific for nucleic acid chains. The thymine and the adenine always have a hydrogen bond, and the cytosine and guanine are always bonded. When RNA is present, the uracil bonds with the adenine.

    DNA vs. RNA

    • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is usually double-stranded and anti-parallel. Anti-parallel refers to one strand going in 3' to 5' direction, and the other one goes in the 5' to 3' direction. RNA (ribonucleic acid) is usually single-stranded.

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