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A nucleic acid is a macromolecule composed of nucleotide chains. In biochemistry these molecules carry genetic information or form structures within Cell (biology). The most common nucleic acids are DNA (DNA) and RNA (RNA). Nucleic acids are universal in living things, as they are found in all cells. They are also found in viruses.

Artificial nucleic acids include peptide nucleic acid (PNA), Morpholino and locked nucleic acid (LNA), as well as GNA (nucleic acid) (GNA) and TNA (nucleic acid) (TNA). Each of these is distinguished from naturally-occurring DNA or RNA by changes to the backbone of the molecule.

Chemical structure The term "nucleic acid" is the generic name for a family of biopolymers, named for their role in the cell nucleus. The monomers from which nucleic acids are constructed are called nucleotides.

Each nucleotide consists of three components: a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (chemistry), which is either a purine or a pyrimidine; a pentose sugar; and a phosphate group. Nucleic acid types differ in the structure of the sugar in their nucleotides - DNA contains 2-deoxyriboses while RNA contains ribose. Also, the nitrogenous bases found in the two nucleic acid types are different: adenine, cytosine, and guanine are in both RNA and DNA, while thymine only occurs in DNA and uracil only occurs in RNA. Other rare nucleic acid bases can occur, for example inosine in strands of mature transfer RNA.

Nucleic acids are usually either single-stranded or double-stranded, though structures with three or more strands can form. A double-stranded nucleic acid consists of two single-stranded nucleic acids held together by chemical bond, such as in the DNA double helix. In contrast, RNA is usually single-stranded, but any given strand may fold back upon itself to form double-helical regions. Within cells, DNA is usually double-stranded, though most viruses have single-stranded DNA as their genome. Retroviruses have single-stranded RNA as their genome.

The sugars and phosphates in nucleic acids are connected to each other in an alternating chain, linked by shared oxygens, forming a Phosphodiester bonds functional group. In nucleic acid nomenclature, the carbons to which the phosphate groups attach are the 3' end and the 5' end carbons of the sugar. The bases extend from a glycosidic linkage to the 1"carbon of the pentose sugar ring.

Types of nucleic acids Nucleobases Main article: Nucleobase Nucleobases are heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds containing nitrogen atoms. Nucleobases are the parts of RNA and DNA involved in base pairing. Cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine are the found predominantly in DNA, while in RNA uracil replaces thymine. These are abbreviated as C, G, A, T, U, respectively.

Nucleobases are complementarity (molecular biology), and when forming base pairs, must always join accordingly: cytosine-guanine, adenine-thymine (adenine-uracil when RNA).

Two main nucleobase classes exist, named for the molecule which forms their skeleton. These are the double-ringed purines and single-ringed pyrimidines. Adenine and guanine are purines (abbreviated as R), while cytosine, thymine, and uracil are all pyrimidines (abbreviated as Y).

Hypoxanthine and xanthine are mutant forms of adenine and guanine, respectively, created through mutagen presence, through deamination (replacement of the amine-group with a hydroxyl-group). These are abbreviated HX and X.

Nucleosides Main article: Nucleoside Nucleosides are glycosylamines made by attaching a nucleobase (often referred to simply as bases) to a ribose or deoxyribose (sugar) ring. In short, a nucleoside is a base linked to sugar. The names derive from the nucleobase names. The nucleosides commonly occurring in DNA and RNA include cytidine, uridine, adenosine, guanosine and thymidine. When a phosphate is added to a nucleoside (by phosphorylation by a specific kinase enzyme), a nucleotide is produced.

Nucleotides and deoxynucleotides Main article: Nucleotide A nucleotide consists of a nucleoside and one or more phosphate Functional groups. Nucleotides are the monomers of RNA and DNA, as well as forming the structural units of several important cofactors - coenzyme A, FAD, flavin mononucleotide, adenosine triphosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. In the cell (biology) nucleotides play important roles in metabolism, and signaling.

Nucleotides are named after the nucleoside on which they are based, in conjunction with the number of phosphates they contain, for example:

• Adenine bonded to ribose forms the nucleoside adenosine.
• Adenosine bonded to a phosphate forms adenosine monophosphate.
• As phosphates are added, adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate are formed, in sequence.

Ribonucleic acids Main article: RNA

Ribonucleic acid or RNA is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of nucleotide monomers, which plays several important roles in the processes of translating genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into proteins. RNA acts as a messenger between DNA and the protein synthesis complexes known as ribosomes, forms vital portions of ribosomes, and acts as an essential carrier molecule for amino acids to be used in protein synthesis.

Deoxyribonucleic acids Main article: DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information and DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints, since it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells, such as proteins and RNA molecules. The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in regulating the use of this genetic information

External links

• Prediction of hairpin forming potential in nucleotide sequences
• Interview with Aaron Klug, Nobel Laureate for structural elucidation of biologically important nucleic-acid protein complexes provided by the Vega Science Trust.

A nucleic acid is a macromolecule composed of nucleotide chains. In biochemistry these molecules carry genetic information or form structures within Cell (biology). The most common nucleic acids are DNA (DNA) and RNA (RNA). Nucleic acids are universal in living things, as they are found in all cells. They are also found in viruses.

Artificial nucleic acids include peptide nucleic acid (PNA), Morpholino and locked nucleic acid (LNA), as well as GNA (nucleic acid) (GNA) and TNA (nucleic acid) (TNA). Each of these is distinguished from naturally-occurring DNA or RNA by changes to the backbone of the molecule.

Chemical structure The term "nucleic acid" is the generic name for a family of biopolymers, named for their role in the cell nucleus. The monomers from which nucleic acids are constructed are called nucleotides.

Each nucleotide consists of three components: a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (chemistry), which is either a purine or a pyrimidine; a pentose sugar; and a phosphate group. Nucleic acid types differ in the structure of the sugar in their nucleotides - DNA contains 2-deoxyriboses while RNA contains ribose. Also, the nitrogenous bases found in the two nucleic acid types are different: adenine, cytosine, and guanine are in both RNA and DNA, while thymine only occurs in DNA and uracil only occurs in RNA. Other rare nucleic acid bases can occur, for example inosine in strands of mature transfer RNA.

Nucleic acids are usually either single-stranded or double-stranded, though structures with three or more strands can form. A double-stranded nucleic acid consists of two single-stranded nucleic acids held together by chemical bond, such as in the DNA double helix. In contrast, RNA is usually single-stranded, but any given strand may fold back upon itself to form double-helical regions. Within cells, DNA is usually double-stranded, though most viruses have single-stranded DNA as their genome. Retroviruses have single-stranded RNA as their genome.

The sugars and phosphates in nucleic acids are connected to each other in an alternating chain, linked by shared oxygens, forming a Phosphodiester bonds functional group. In nucleic acid nomenclature, the carbons to which the phosphate groups attach are the 3' end and the 5' end carbons of the sugar. The bases extend from a glycosidic linkage to the 1"carbon of the pentose sugar ring.

Types of nucleic acids Nucleobases Main article: Nucleobase Nucleobases are heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds containing nitrogen atoms. Nucleobases are the parts of RNA and DNA involved in base pairing. Cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine are the found predominantly in DNA, while in RNA uracil replaces thymine. These are abbreviated as C, G, A, T, U, respectively.

Nucleobases are complementarity (molecular biology), and when forming base pairs, must always join accordingly: cytosine-guanine, adenine-thymine (adenine-uracil when RNA).

Two main nucleobase classes exist, named for the molecule which forms their skeleton. These are the double-ringed purines and single-ringed pyrimidines. Adenine and guanine are purines (abbreviated as R), while cytosine, thymine, and uracil are all pyrimidines (abbreviated as Y).

Hypoxanthine and xanthine are mutant forms of adenine and guanine, respectively, created through mutagen presence, through deamination (replacement of the amine-group with a hydroxyl-group). These are abbreviated HX and X.

Nucleosides Main article: Nucleoside Nucleosides are glycosylamines made by attaching a nucleobase (often referred to simply as bases) to a ribose or deoxyribose (sugar) ring. In short, a nucleoside is a base linked to sugar. The names derive from the nucleobase names. The nucleosides commonly occurring in DNA and RNA include cytidine, uridine, adenosine, guanosine and thymidine. When a phosphate is added to a nucleoside (by phosphorylation by a specific kinase enzyme), a nucleotide is produced.

Nucleotides and deoxynucleotides Main article: Nucleotide A nucleotide consists of a nucleoside and one or more phosphate Functional groups. Nucleotides are the monomers of RNA and DNA, as well as forming the structural units of several important cofactors - coenzyme A, FAD, flavin mononucleotide, adenosine triphosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. In the cell (biology) nucleotides play important roles in metabolism, and signaling.

Nucleotides are named after the nucleoside on which they are based, in conjunction with the number of phosphates they contain, for example:

• Adenine bonded to ribose forms the nucleoside adenosine.
• Adenosine bonded to a phosphate forms adenosine monophosphate.
• As phosphates are added, adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate are formed, in sequence.

Ribonucleic acids Main article: RNA

Ribonucleic acid or RNA is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of nucleotide monomers, which plays several important roles in the processes of translating genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into proteins. RNA acts as a messenger between DNA and the protein synthesis complexes known as ribosomes, forms vital portions of ribosomes, and acts as an essential carrier molecule for amino acids to be used in protein synthesis.

Deoxyribonucleic acids Main article: DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information and DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints, since it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells, such as proteins and RNA molecules. The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in regulating the use of this genetic information

External links

• Prediction of hairpin forming potential in nucleotide sequences
• Interview with Aaron Klug, Nobel Laureate for structural elucidation of biologically important nucleic-acid protein complexes provided by the Vega Science Trust.

Nucleic acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A nucleic acid is a macromolecule composed of chains of monomeric nucleotides. In biochemistry these molecules carry genetic information or form structures within cells.

Nucleic Acid Symbols
The full text of the IUPAC and IUB Abbreviations and Symbols for Nucleic Acids, Polynucleotides and their Constituents

Incomplete nucleic acid sequences
The full text of the IUBMB recommendations on nomenclature for incompletely specified bases in nucleic acid sequences

LMB Division of Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
The objectives of the Division are to obtain insights into human biology and disease at the molecular level, including strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

Nucleic acid hydration
Annotated overview of the hydration of nucleic acids along with proteins and polysaccharides.

Nucleic Acid Enzymes: The Fusion of Self-assembly and Conformational ...
Abstract. Macromolecules are the predominant physical substrate supporting information processing in organisms. Two key characteristics—--conformational dynamics and self ...

Nucleic Acid Database (NDB)
assembles and distributes structural information about nucleic acids.

2nd Nucleic Acid Quantification Meeting
2 nd Nucleic Acid Quantification Meeting. An independent workshop for real-time PCR and RT-PCR. Morris Lecture Theatre, Robin Brooke Centre, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, West ...

Strathprints - Nucleic acid sequence identification
D. Graham (1999) Nucleic acid sequence identification. International Patent WO 99/60157. Full text not currently available from this archive.

Definition: nucleic acid from Online Medical Dictionary
The Online Medical Dictionary is a searchable dictionary of definitions from medicine, science and technology.