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DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) was discovered in the late 1800s, but its
role as the material of heredity was not elucidated for fifty years after that. It
occupies a central and critical role in the cell as the genetic information in
which all the information required to duplicate and maintain the organism. All
information necessary to maintain and propagate life is contained within a
linear array of four simple bases: ADENINE, GUANINE, THYMINE, AND
CYTOSINE.
HOW IS IT DESCRIBED?
DNA was first described as a monotonously UNIFORM HELIX,
generally called B-DNA. However, we now know that DNA can adopt many
different shapes and conformations. Moreover, many of these alternative
shapes have biological importance. Thus, the DNA is not simply an
informational repository. Rather, structural information exists within the
specific sequence patterns of the bases. This structural information dictates
the interaction of DNA with proteins to carry out processes of DNA
replication, transcription into RNA, and repair of errors or damage to the
DNA.
THE B-DNA
The purines and pyrimidines are the informational molecules of
the genetic blueprints for the cell. The two sides of the helix are held
together by hydrogen bonds between base pairs. Hydrogen bonds are
weak attractions between a hydrogen atom on one side and an oxygen or
nitrogen atom on the other. Hydrogen atoms of animo groups serve as the
hydrogen bond donor with the carbonyl oxygens and ring nitrogens
serve as hydrogen bond acceptors. The specific location of hydrogen bond
donor and acceptor groups gives the bases their specificity for hydrogen
bonding in unique pairs. Thymine (T) pairs with Adenine (A) through two
hydrogen bonds, and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) through three
hydrogen bonds. T does not normally pair with G, nor does C normally pair
with A.
DESCRIPTION
Nucleotides
Each nucleotide is made
up of three parts a
sugar, a phosphate and a
nitrogen base.
[ phosphate covalently
bonded 3 or/and 5
hydroxyl group(s)
Nucleosides
Each nucleoside is
made up of two parts
a sugar and a
nitrogen base
[no phosphate]
Name of
Nucleotide
Deoxyadenylate
Deoxyguanylate
Deoxycytidylate
Deoxythymidylate
Name of
Nucleoside
Deoxyadenosine
Deoxyguanosine
Deoxycytidine
Deoxythymidine
NITROGEN BASES
There are 4 different bases in DNA molecule, two purines and two
pyrimidines.
Purines adenine and guanine
Pyrimidine cytosine and thymine
Sequence of nitrogen bases determine what biological information is
written in DNA strand which is used to build and maintain an organism.
NITROGEN BASES
N-base group
Members
Base Pairs
SUGAR
Purines
Pyrimidines
Adenine and Guanine
Cytosine and Thymine
Derivative of
One ringed structure
pyrimidines,
Two ringed structure
Larger than pyrimidines
Smaller than purines
Adenine Thymine and Cytosine - Guanine
CONCLUSION
In summary, DNA can exist in a very stable, right-handed double helix,
in which the genetic information is very stable. Certain DNA sequences can
also adopt alternative conformations, some of which are important
regulatory signals involved in the genetic expression or replication of DNA.