220 likes | 262 Views
DNA & RNA Structure. Fig 1.9. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic material Stores genetic information in the form of a code: a linear sequence of nucleotides. Replicated by copying the strands using each as a template for the production of the complementary strand.
E N D
DNA & RNA Structure Fig 1.9
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) • is the genetic material • Stores genetic information in the form of a code: a linear sequence of nucleotides. • Replicated by copying the strands using each as a template for the production of the complementary strand.
Nucleosides (of DNA) – Precursors to Nucleotides Nucleoside = base + sugar Sugar = deoxyribose; 5 carbons, no OH on the 2nd (or 2’) carbon; base is attached to carbon 1
RNA Ribose replaces deoxyribose; uracil replaces thymine
e.g., AMP is a ribonucleotide, dAMP is a deoxyribonucleotide
In DNA and RNA, nucleotides are held together by phosphodiester bonds.
Higher Order RNA Structure Stem-loops are common elements of secondary RNA structure. Stems are double-stranded regions of RNA that are A-form helices. They usually follow Watson-Crick base pairing rules (U replaces T), but other pairs occur (G – U is common). (DNA is typically a B-form helix). Stem loop
Secondary structure diagram Tertiary structure diagram Tetrahymena rRNA intron Cr.LSU rRNA intron
What chemical forces hold (or drive) the DNA strands together? (also applies to double-stranded regions of RNA)
1. Hydrogen bonds between bases Also important that the purine-pyrimidine base pairs are of similar size.
2. DNA strands also held together by base stacking: Van der Waals interactions between successive (or neighbor) base-pairs Evidence: Compounds that interfere with Hydrogen bonds (urea, formamide) don’t separate strands by themselves, still requires heat 3. Double-stranded helix structure also promoted by having phosphates on outside, interact with H2O and counter ions (K+, Mg2+, etc.)
Double-stranded (DS) DNA statistics (B-form) • Helix is right handed • 10 base-pairs/turn • 3.4 nm (34 angstroms)/turn • Helix has a major groove and a minor groove.
10 1 0
Molecular Visualization:www.umass.edu/microbio/chime/ DNA Structure: www.umass.edu/molvis/tutorials/dna/
Study Helix Stability with Melting Curves DNA melting curve of Streptococcus DNA. When DNA melts, the 2 strands come apart, and its absorbance in the UV region increases. Tm= temp. at which 50% of DNA is melted.
Re-Annealing or Hybridization Works with: • DNA - DNA • DNA - RNA • RNA - RNA Basis of many techniques in molecular biology.
Base composition (G-C content) determines melting temperature: varies among organisms
G-C content also determines density of DNA (g/cc) Separation of nuclear (nuc) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA on a CsCl-ethidium bromide gradient – visualized with long-wave UV light.