- A Nucleotide is yet another type of Biological Molecule, it's made from a Pentose Sugar, a Nitrogenous Base and a Phosphate Group.
- All Nucleotides contain the elements, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon and Hydrogen
- Nucleotides are the Monomers that make up DNA and RNA
- ADP and ATP are Special types of Nucleotides used to Store and Transport Energy in cells
Deoxyribose (Shown Above)
- The pentose sugar in a DNA nucleotide is 'Deoxyribose'
- Each DNA Nucleotide has the Same Sugar and Phosphate Group, it is the Base on each DNA nucleotide that Varies.
- There are 4 possible bases, Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C)
- Adenine and Guanine are a type of base called Purine.
- Thymine and Cytosine are a type of base called Pyrimidine.
- Purine: contains 2 Carbon-Nitrogen Rings joined together
- Pyrimidine: Only 1 Carbon-Nitrogen Ring - so it is Smaller than purine.
- A Molecule of DNA contains Two Polynucleotide Chains - each chain having lots of nucleotides joined together.
Ribose
- RNA contains Nucleotides with a Ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose.
- An RNA molecule also has a Phosphate group, and one of four different bases.
- However, in RNA, Uracil (U), which is a Pyrimidine, Replaces Thymine as a base.
- An RNA molecule is made up of a Single Polynucleotide Chain
ADP and ATP
- To Phosphorylate a nucleotide, you Add One or More Phosphate Groups to it.
- ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) contains the base Adenine, the sugar Ribose and Two Phosphate Groups.
- ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) contains the base Adenine, the sugar Ribose, and Three Phosphate Groups.
ADP, ATP and Energy
- ATP provides Energy for Chemical Reactions in the Cell.
- ATP is Synthesised from ADP and Inorganic Phosphate (Pi) using the Energy From an Energy-Releasing Reaction, (e.g. the breakdown of glucose in respiration.
- The ADP is Phosphorylated to form ATP and a Phosphate Bond is formed.
- Energy is Stored in the Phosphate Bond. When this Energy is Needed by a cell, ATP is Broken Back Down into ADP and Inorganic Phosphate (Pi). The Energy is Released from the Phosphate Bond and Used by the Cell.
this is so helpful
ReplyDeleteThis was an informative explanation of nucleotides.
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