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Pathogens Biomolecules
organisms. Biomolecules consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen,
hydrogen, along
with nitrogen,
nitrogen, oxygen,
oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.
sulfur. Other elements sometimes are
incorporated but are much less common.
4. Nucleic acid,:
acid,: DNA,
DNA, RNA.
RNA.
NUCLEIC ACIDS
A nucleic acid is a complex, high-
high-molecular-
molecular-weight biochemical macromolecule
Nucleotide structure
composed of nucleotide chains that convey genetic information.
information. The most common
nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Nucleic acids are found in all living cells and viruses.
viruses.
The monomers from which nucleic acids are constructed are called nucleotides.
nucleotides.
Each nucleotide consists of three components: a nitrogenous heterocyclic base, base,
either a purine or a pyrimidine;
pyrimidine; a pentose sugar;
sugar; and a phosphate group.
Types of RNA
1
DNA
RNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic
instructions for the development and functioning of living organisms
In eukaryotes such as animals and plants,
plants, DNA is stored inside the cell
nucleus,
nucleus, while in prokaryotes such as bacteria,
bacteria, the DNA is in the cell's
cytoplasm.
cytoplasm.
EUKARYOTE PROKARYOTE
Ribosomic RNA
DNA BONDS
DOUBLE HELIX The DNA double helix is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the bases attached to
the two strands.
strands. The four bases found in DNA are adenine (abbreviated A), cytosine
(C), guanine (G) and thymine (T).
BASES
Base pairing
These bases are classified into two types;
types; adenine and guanine are fused five-
five- and six-
six-
membered heterocyclic compounds called purines,
purines, while cytosine and thymine are six-
six-
membered rings called pyrimidines
Each type of base on one strand forms a bond with just one type of base on the other
strand.
strand. This is called complementary base pairin.
pairin. Purines form hydrogen bonds to
pyrimidines,
pyrimidines, with A bonding only to T, and C bonding only to G.
2
Double helix Antiparallel strands
•DNA is a long polymer made from repeating units called nucleotides.
nucleotides. DNA is antiparallel,
antiparallel, it means that the two strands of DNA have opposite chemical
polarity, or, stated another way, their sugar-
sugar-phosphate backbones run in opposite
•A nucleotide is a chemical compound that consists of 3 components:
components: a heterocyclic base,
base, directions
a sugar,
sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.
groups.
•These two long strands entwine like vines, in the shape of a double helix.
helix.
DNA
DNA special properties
These bases are classified into two types;
types; adenine and guanine are fused five-
five-
and six-
six-membered heterocyclic compounds called purines,
purines, while cytosine and
thymine are six-
six-membered rings called pyrimidines DNA is made of two antiparallel and complimentary strands : Direction in
nucleic acids is specified by referring to the carbons of the ribose
ribose ring in
Each type of base on one strand forms a bond with just one type of base on the sugar-
sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA. 5' specifies the 5th carbon in the
the other strand.
strand. This is called complementary base pairin.
pairin. Purines form ribose ring, counting clockwise from the oxygen molecule, and 3' specifies
hydrogen bonds to pyrimidines,
pyrimidines, with A bonding only to T, and C bonding the 3rd carbon in the ring. Nucleic acid polymerization cannot occur
occur in 3' to
only to G. 5', because of the difference in chemical properties between the 5' methyl
group and the 3' ring-
ring-carbon with an attached hydroxyl group.
DNA exists in several possible conformations.
conformations. The conformations so far
identified are: A-DNA,
DNA, B-
B-DNA, C-C-DNA, D-D-DNA, E-E-DNA, H-
H-DNA, L- L- Hydrophillic polar external sugar-
sugar-phosphate backbone.
DNA, and Z-DNA.
DNA. Hydrophobic core of bases: Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine.
DNA is negatively charged due to the phosphate ions present in thethe ribose-
ribose-
phosphate backbone. It moves towards the positive pole during
electrophoresis.
DNA resist high temperatures. When DNA is desnatured DNA, it can
renature itself. This property is very important in PCR and permit the
primer annealing.