Nucleic Acid
Nucleic Acid
ACID
Nucleic Acids
• Are large biomolecules that play essential
roles in all cells and viruses.
4. Adenine-Thymine, Cytosine-Guanine
Hydrogen bond
• Links nitrogen bases
Anti-parallel
DNA Replication
The process by which the genome's DNA is copied in cells.
Produces 2 semiconservative DNA strands.
Happens in the NUCLEUS.
Enzymes Responsible for DNA
Replication
Helicase-unzips the 2 strands of DNA
Primase-initializes the building of new strand.
DNA polymerase- the builder of the new strand.
Ligase- “gluer” it connects strands in lagging strands.
SSBP or Single Stranded Binding Proteins- Prevents
DNA strands from closing again upon separation.
PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
2 Processes
1. Transcription
- in the nucleus
-mRNA is made
2. Translation
-in the ribosomes
-proteins are made
20 Amino
Acids
TAC TGG TTT CCA CAA GTA ATT -
AUG ACC AAA GGU GUU CAU UAA -
DNA Strand
mRNA
UAC UGG UUU CCA CAA GUA AUU -
tRNA
Met Thr Lys Gly Val His Stop- Amino
acids
1. TAC ATA TAA AAA ACA AGA GAA TTA ACC ATT -
DNA strand
2. TAC CGA CCA TTT ATA CCC GAA TTA AAA ACT -
DNA strand
3. TAC GGG CAC AAA TTA AAC GGT CGT CCT ATC-
DNA strand
4. AUG CCC GUG UUU AAU UUC CCA GCA GGA UAG – mRNA
strand
5. AUG ACU AAU GUC AGU AGA UGG GAG CAA UAA – mRNA
strand
3 main stages of DNA Replication
1. Initiation
2. Elongation
3. Termination
Initiation
• Helicase unwinds and opens the DNA helix.
• Y-shaped structures called replication forks are formed.
• Two replication forks are formed at the origin of
replication, and these get extended in both directions
as replication proceeds.
Elongation
• an enzyme called DNA polymerase adds DNA nucleotides to the 3'
end of the template.