Nucleotide - Research Article from Macmillan Science Library: Genetics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 4 pages of information about Nucleotide.

Nucleotide - Research Article from Macmillan Science Library: Genetics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 4 pages of information about Nucleotide.
This section contains 970 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Nucleotide Encyclopedia Article

Nucleotides are the building blocks of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Individual nucleotide monomers (single units) are linked together to form polymers, or long chains. DNA chains store genetic information, while RNA chains perform a variety of roles integral to protein synthesis. Individual nucleotides also play important roles in cell metabolism.

Structure

The nucleotide molecule contains three functional groups: a base, a sugar, and a phosphate (see diagram). It may seem puzzling that a nucleic acid should contain a base. While the base portion does have weakly basic properties, the nucleotide as a whole acts as an acid, due to the phosphate group.

The names DNA and RNA are generated from the deoxyribose and ribose sugars found in these two polymers. Both are five-carbon sugars, whose carbons are numbered around the ring from 1′ to 5′ ("one prime" to "five prime"). The prime distinguishes the carbons on the...

(read more)

This section contains 970 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Nucleotide Encyclopedia Article
Copyrights
Macmillan
Nucleotide from Macmillan. Copyright © 2001-2006 by Macmillan Reference USA, an imprint of the Gale Group. All rights reserved.