DNA STRUCTURE
DR F. DIDA, MD, PhD
OVERVIEW
Introduction and discovery of DNA
structure of DNA and its contents
Bonding of Nucleotide components
Double Helix structure of DNA
Beginnings of Genetics
•Gregor Mendel in 1865 studied and
suggested Patterns of inheritance in pea
plants
Discovery of DNA
• 1865: Gregor Mendel
• Patterns of inheritance in pea plants
• 1869: Johann Friedrich Miescher
• Isolation of DNA (“nuclein”)
•Extracted ‘nuclein’ from white
blood cells from pus-covered
bandages at a local clinic
DNA is the Genetic
Material
• 1865 Mendel: patterns of inheritance
• 1869 Miescher: isolation of DNA (“nuclein”)
• 1882 Fleming: chromosome behavior
during mitosis
• 1902 Sutton, Boveri: chromosome theory
of inheritance
• 1911 Morgan: linear arrangement of genes
on chromosomes
• 1944 Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty: DNA
carries genetic information
Introduction cont..
structureof DNA in
1953 by Francis Crick
and James Watson.
Introduction cont..
• DNA is a nucleic acid that carries the genetic
information in the cell and is capable of self-
replication and synthesis of RNA
• DNA molecules are the largest
macromolecules in the cell.
• They are commonly packaged into
chromosomes
• Most bacteria and viruses –have single
chromosome
• Eukaryotes has many chromosomes
• Chromosomes are divided into genes (code
for proteins)
The DNA
Introduction cont….
• DNA can also be found in organelles of
Eukaryotic cells
• Mitochondria and chloroplasts also have
DNA
- remnant of ancient bacteria?
• Mitochondrial DNA molecules are smaller
than nuclear chromosomes
• Mitochondrial DNA codes for mitochondrial
RNA and a few mitochondrial proteins
• Over 95% mitochondrial proteins actually
encoded by nuclear DNA
• Maternally inherited
Functions of DNA
Storage of genetic information
Self-duplication & inheritance.
Expression of the genetic message.
DNA’s major function is to code
for proteins.
Information is encoded in the order of
the nitrogenous bases.
The DNA Structure
DNA consists of two molecules
that are arranged into a ladder-
like structure called a Double
Helix.
DNA is of 3.4nm in size and
radius of 1nm.
Amolecule of DNA is made up of
millions of tiny subunits called
DNA structure
Nucleoside =base linked to sugar.
= (without phosphate)
Nucleotide=base linked to sugar and
phosphate
Polynucleotide-has >50 nucleotides
Oligonucleotide-has<50 nucleotides
DNA structure
Each nucleotide consists of:
1. Phosphate group
2. Pentose sugar
3. Nitrogenous base
The Pentose Sugars
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid: RiboNucleic Acid:
DNA Nucleotide Structure
.
Phospha
te
Nitrogeno
us
Base
Pentos
e
Sugar
DNA is a long polymer made from
repeating units called nucleotides
Is this a DNA or RNA Nucleotide?
DNA NITROGENOUS
BASES
• There are four types of nitrogenous
bases.
• a) PURINES
1. Adenine (A)
2. Guanine (G)
• b) PYRIMIDINES
3. Thymine (T)
4. Cytosine (C)
Nucleosides
in RNA in DNA
DNA Nucleotides
.
A T
Adenine Thymine
C G
Cytosine Guanine
Nitrogenous base paring
(Chargaff’s Rule)
Each base will only bond with one other
specific base.
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Form a base
pair.
Cytosine(C)
Form a base
Guanine (G)
pair.
And their amounts in a given DNA
molecule will be about the same.
Nitrogenous base paring
A T
.
C
G
T A
C
G
A T
G C
T A
BONDING BETWEEN NITROGENOUS BASES
-Is Hydrogen bonds
•Chargaff’s Rule
Adenine must pair with Thymine
• T A = 2 hydrogen
bonds
• Guanine must pair with Cytosine
G C
=3 hydrogen bonds
• .
Hydrogen Bonds Hold Base Pairs Together
Bases are linked to
sugars via glycosidic
bonds.
Phosphodiester Bonds
Phosphodiester bonds link
nucleotides together in
nucleic acids
5’-OH of one nucleotide is
joined to the 3’-OH of the
next by this phosphodiester
linkage
Backbone of nucleic acid
consists of alternating
.
Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA
The phosphate and sugar form the backbone of the DNA molecule, whereas the bases form the “rungs”.
DOUBLE STRANDED DNA
DNA is a Double Helix
Watson and Crick used four
types of information to deduce
the double helix structure:
• Biophysical data of various
kinds..
• X-ray diffraction patterns
(helical nature plus
dimensions)
• The base ratios (Chargaff)
Watson-Crick model for DNA
Structure
10.4
base
pairs
View Down the Helix Axis
Bases
Sugar/phosphate
backbone
