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Structure of DNA lecture notes
The Human Body (PY4010)
Kingston University
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Structure of DNA (N)
Nitrogenous bases (purines) Adenine and Guanine ⇒ consist of 2 rings fused together Nitrogenous bases (pyrimidine) Thymine, Cytosine and Uracil ⇒ consist of a single ring Deoxy-ribose Sugar found in DNA. Lacks the oxygen on the 2’ carbon. Has a pentagonal structure. Nucleoside Base covelently attached to a sugar group Nucleotide Base is covalently attached to a sugar group and the sugar group has 1 or more phosphate groups attached Naming system
Phosphate groups on DNA Release protons making it acidic and giving it a negative charge. Nucleotide examples and uses ATP = energy unit cAMP = second messenger AMP = involved in RNA synthesis
Formation of DNA Nucleotides are joined together to form DNA. The phosphate group links the ribose via a phosphodiester bond, linking the 5’ carbon of one ribose to the 3’ carbon of the next ribose. The chain runs in a 5’ to 3’ direction. The two strands run in opposite directions and are complimentary. They twist around each other, creating the double helical structure of DNA. The nitrogenous bases bind to each other through hydrogen bonding. A purine always binds to a pyrimidine (A=T and C=G). This is called Watson-Crick base pairing. Minor and major grooves
3 forms of DNA A form ⇒ shorter, more compact and right handed. Mostly when DNA is dehydrated/crystalline/combined with RNA. B form ⇒ most common, right handed Z form ⇒ left handed helix
Advantages of DNA structure
In prokaryotic cells The DNA is circular. It is packaged first through coiling, compacting and then supercoiling.
Structure of DNA lecture notes
Module: The Human Body (PY4010)
University: Kingston University
