DNA

Nucleic Acids - back

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Function/Purpose:

• Storage of genetic information

Fundamentals:

• Two strands that are antiparallel and a double helix
  • Meaning one strand is 5-3 left to right
  • Other strand is 3-5 left to right

Forces That Influence Structure

• Molecule is twisted with the nitrogenous bases create hydrogen bonds and are vertically stacked like steps
  • Hydrophobics/Pi Pi Stacking Pi bonds that are stack help further the stability of the helix
  • Hydrogen Bonds
  • Van Der Walls
• Polymer is attached with phosphodiester bonds between the C5 phosphate and the C3 hydroxyl
• Nucleic acids are base paired in a complimentary system
  • C - G
  • A - T

Components:

• Nitrogenous Base
  • Purine
  • Pyrimidine
• Deoxyribose sugar
• Phosphate group

Additional Information:

• Kimbal
• DNA Supercoils
• TMP