RNA Nucleotides: Chemical Structure, Function, and the Importance of its 4 Bases

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/TRNA-Phe_yeast_1ehz.png/220px-TRNA-Phe_yeast_1ehz.png

Chemical StructureRNA nucleotides contain:

- Ribose

- Phosphate group

- Nitrogenous base

1

23

4

5

Uracil, rather than Thymine which is used in DNA.

http://student.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/biotutorials/dna/images/RNAbases.jpg

Nucleotide Function and Importance of the Nitrogenous Bases

Collectively, RNA nucleotides are very important because they can be used to replicate DNA and code for proteins during the transcription and translation processes. To get to that stage, the separate nucleotides must covalently bond together via 3’-5’ Phosphodiester bonds (called so because the bond is between the 3’ OH of one nucleotide and the phosphate group on the 5’ C of the Ribose of another).

The function of a nucleotide is to provide a digit for a coding and to collaborate with other nucleotides to create a specific code.

Each nitrogenous base in the strand that is formed acts as part of the code that is being made – U, A, C and G.

These bases bind to other bases using Hydrogen bonding, which can effectively translate the code.

Many nucleotides can be linked up together, here we are using three. http://www.uic.edu/classes/phys/phys461/phys450/ANJUM04/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/AGCT_RNA_mini.png/220px-AGCT_RNA_mini.png

As a brief example of the importance of nucleotides, we’ll look at tRNA.

http://www.wiley.com/college/boyer/0470003790/structure/tRNA/trna_diagram.gif

The anti-codon contains 3 nucleotides, which in turn contain three bases that code for one amino acid. These amino acids are attached together with peptide bonds, creating a protein.

Conclusion

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http://shrink4men.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/lego-man.jpg

RNA nucleotides work together with DNA nucleotides to help create the building blocks of life.