Components of nucleosides and nucleotides with examples

Components of nucleosides and nucleotides with examples

Nucleosides are fundamental components of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.

Components of Nucleosides

A nucleoside is composed of two main components:

1. Sugar Molecule (Pentose Sugar):

The sugar molecule in a nucleoside is a pentose sugar, meaning it has five carbon atoms.

In DNA, the sugar is deoxyribose, and in RNA, it is ribose.

2. Nitrogenous Base:

The nitrogenous base is a crucial component determining the specificity and function of the nucleoside.

The bases can be purines (adenine, guanine) or pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, uracil).

Examples of Nucleosides

1. Adenosine:

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Adenine

Example in DNA: Deoxyadenosine (with deoxyribose)

Example in RNA: Adenosine (with ribose)

2. Guanosine:

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Guanine

Example in DNA: Deoxyguanosine (with deoxyribose)

Example in RNA: Guanosine (with ribose)

3. Cytidine:

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Cytosine

Example in DNA: Deoxycytidine (with deoxyribose)

Example in RNA: Cytidine (with ribose)

4. Thymidine:

Sugar: Deoxyribose

Nitrogenous Base: Thymine

Example in DNA: Deoxythymidine (with deoxyribose)

Not present in RNA.

5. Uridine:

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Uracil

Example in RNA: Uridine (with ribose)

Not present in DNA.

Components of Nucleotides

A nucleotide is a more complex molecule compared to a nucleoside. It consists of three main components:

1. Sugar Molecule (Pentose Sugar):

The sugar in a nucleotide is also a pentose sugar, either deoxyribose (in DNA) or ribose (in RNA).

2. Nitrogenous Base:

The nitrogenous base can be a purine (adenine, guanine) or a pyrimidine (cytosine, thymine, uracil).

3. Phosphate Group:

The phosphate group is a crucial component providing the nucleotide with a negative charge.

It is attached to the 5′ carbon of the sugar molecule.

Examples of Nucleotides

1. Deoxyadenosine Monophosphate (dAMP):

Sugar: Deoxyribose

Nitrogenous Base: Adenine

Phosphate: Monophosphate

2. Guanosine Triphosphate (GTP):

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Guanine

Phosphate: Triphosphate

3. Cytidine Diphosphate (CDP):

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Cytosine

Phosphate: Diphosphate

4. Deoxythymidine Triphosphate (dTTP):

Sugar: Deoxyribose

Nitrogenous Base: Thymine

Phosphate: Triphosphate

5. Uridine Monophosphate (UMP):

Sugar: Ribose

Nitrogenous Base: Uracil

Phosphate: Monophosphate

Nucleotides serve as the monomers of nucleic acids, where the sequential arrangement of nucleotides forms DNA and RNA, carrying genetic information and facilitating various cellular processes.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *