Nucleic Acids Function

Febrian Roman 1406641836

ABSTRACT
Nucleic acids are biopolymers, or large biomolecules, essential for all known forms of life. Nucleic
acids, which include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), are made
from monomersknown as nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three components: a 5-carbon sugar,
a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. If the sugar is deoxyribose, the polymer is DNA. If
the sugar is ribose, thepolymer is RNA. When all three components are combined, they form a
nucleic acid. The main function of Nucleic Acid is to store and to transmit genetic information and
use that information to direct the synthesis of new protein. DNA is the permanent storage place for
genetic information in the nucleus of a cell (in prokaryote). DNA controls the synthesis of RNA.
RNA transmits genetic information from DNA to the protein synthesizers in the cell. RNA is also
responsible for directing the production of the new protein by transmitting the genetic information to
the protein building structures. The nucleotide ATP, which is closely related to DNA and RNA, is the
short-term energy storage for all life processes. The function of the sequence of bases (Adenine,
Cytosine, Guanine and Thymine) in the backbone of DNA determine what proteins are being
synthesized and in what order. The function of double helix formation of DNA molecules is to
ensure that no disorders occur if genetic information is lost or damaged.

Nucleic Acid Definition

Nucleic acids are essential large biological molecules for all forms of life. The nucleic acids include
the DNA and the RNA. They are the hereditary determinants of living organisms. They are present
in most living cells either in free state or bound to proteins as nucleoproteins. The nucleic acids are
biopolymers with mononucleotides ad their repeating units. The monomers are known as
nucleotides, they are made up of three units: a sugar, an amine and a phosphate group.

Sub Discussion I

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The functions of DNA are vital for inheritance, coding for proteins and the genetic blueprint of life.
Given the enormity of DNA's functions in the human body and its responsibility for the growth and
maintenance of life, it is not surprising that the discovery of DNA has led to such a great number of
developments in treating disease. DNA holds the instructions for an organism's development and
reproduction - ultimately, its survival.
Coding for Proteins
DNA holds the code for proteins, which are complex molecules that do huge amounts of work
around our body. Information in DNA is initially 'read' and then it is transcribed into a messenger
molecule. After, the information held in this messenger molecule is translated into a 'language' that
the body can understand. This language is one of amino acids, which are also known as the
building blocks of proteins. It is this specific language that dictates how the amino acids should
produce a particular protein. If you think about the twenty different kinds of amino acids, you can
see that the ordering can produce an enormous variety of proteins.

DNA Replication
DNA replication is vital for a virtually endless list of functions, from reproduction to maintenance
and growth of cells, tissues and body systems. To copy itself, a DNA molecule essentially 'unzips,'
thus resulting in a series of bases without pairs along the backbone of the molecule. DNA has four
bases - all part of a nucleotide that also consists of a sugar and phosphate. The four bases in DNA
are very specific about which base they will attach to, which means that adenine only pairs with
thymine and guanine will only pair with cytosine. As the nucleotides connect with unpaired bases
on the backbone of the DNA molecule, they build a new strand that complements - or matches the original sequence. The end result is a strand that is a perfect match to the original one prior to
it unzipping.
Cells in your body replicate for purposes such as making new skin or blood cells. When mistakes
occur, there are repair systems in place to remedy the mistake or alternately, a cell has a marker
for destruction. If a cell survives a mutation, there are still benefits to an organism. In fact, this
concept is essentially the basis for evolution.

Genetic Code
DNA is important in terms of our genetic code, in the sense that it transfers genetic messages to all
of the cells in your body. If you think about DNA in a reproductive sense, consider that the joining of
an egg and sperm to create your first cell provided your completed genetic code that your body
would use for all of your life. Within that initial cell, half of your chromosomes - containing your
DNA - came from your father and half came from your mother.
DNA clearly plays important roles in the human body and is one of the most significant discoveries
of the twentieth century. Our continued research and knowledge of DNA functions will likely help us
to learn even more about this important molecule.

DNA is divided into 3 types :

-

Mitochondrial DNA: Located in organelles called mitochondria, a place where eukaryotic

cells convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, ATP (Adenosine
TriPhosphate). Mitochondrial DNA mutates at a very high rate in comparison to normal
DNA. It can helo to distinguish between closely related species.

Plasmid DNA: The main function of plasmids is to carry antibiotic resistant genes and
spread them in the whole human or animal body. Other function of plasmids is to carry
those genes which are involved in metabolic activities and are helpful in digesting the
pollutants from the environment.

DNA polymerase: Cellular polymerase enzyme that sunthesizes DNA molecules from the
nucleotides building blocks. It has primary function to accurately and efficiently replicate the
genome in order to ensure the maintenance of the genetic information and its faithful
transmission through generations.

Sub Discussion II
RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a linear molecule composed of four types of smaller molecules called
ribonucleotide bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U). RNA is often

compared to a copy from a reference book, or a template, because it carries the same information
as its DNA template but is not used for long-term storage.

Each ribonucleotide base consists of a ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
Adjacent ribose nucleotide bases are chemically attached to one another in a chain via chemical
bonds called phosphodiester bonds. Unlike DNA, RNA is usually single-stranded. Additionally, RNA
contains ribose sugars rather than deoxyribose sugars, which makes RNA more unstable and
more prone to degradation.

RNA is synthesized from DNA by an enzyme known as RNA polymerase during a process called
transcription. The new RNA sequences are complementary to their DNA template, rather than
being identical copies of the template. RNA is then translated into proteins by structures called
ribosomes. There are three types of RNA involved in the translation process: messenger RNA
(mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Function of mRNA

Each molecule, or chain, of mRNA carries instructions on how to connect several "amino
acids" into a peptide chain, which becomes a protein. The same way that nucleotides are building
blocks for RNA, amino acids are building blocks for proteins. Evolution has produced a "genetic
code" wherein each of life's 20 amino acids is coded for by a series of three nitrogenous bases in

RNA nucleotides. Thus, each triplet of RNA nucleotides corresponds to one amino acid, and the
sequence of nucleotides dictates the sequence of amino acids that will be linked into the peptide
chain that makes a protein. While in some cases an amino acid can be represented by multiple
nucleotide triplets, called codons, each codon on RNA represents only one amino acid. For this
reason, the genetic code is said to be "degenerate."

Function of tRNA

While mRNA contains the "message" as to how to sequence amino acids into a chain,
tRNA is the actual translator. Translation of the language of RNA into the language of protein is
possible, because there are many forms of tRNA, each representing an amino acid (protein
building block) and able to link with an RNA codon. Thus, for instance, the tRNA molecule for the
amino acid alanine has an area or binding site for alanine and another binding site for the three
RNA nucleotides, the codon, for alanine.

Ribosomal RNA
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) associates with a set of proteins to form ribosomes. These complex
structures, which physically move along an mRNA molecule, catalyze the assembly of amino acids
into protein chains. They also bind tRNAs and various accessory molecules necessary for protein
synthesis. Ribosomes are composed of a large and small subunit, each of which contains its own
rRNA molecule or molecules.

RNAs involved in pot-transcriptional modification or DNA replication:

Small nuclear RNA: these molecules play a critical role in gene regulation by way of RNA
splicing. snRNAs are found in the nucleus and are typically tightly bound to proteins in
complexes called snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins)
Telomerase RNA: Telomerase RNA is an intrinsic component of the telomerase enzyme. A
short template sequence in the telomerase RNA is copied by the catalytic telomerase
reverse transcriptase (TERT) to synthesize telomere repeats to chromosome ends. In
addition to the template, other conserved RNA structural elements play important parts in
catalysis as well as localization, maturation and assembly of telomerase.
Guide RNA: Guide the intersection or deletion of uridine residues into mitochondrial
mRNAs in kenitoplastid protists in a process known as RNA editing.

Regulatory RNAs

Antisense RNA: The basic function of aRNA is a transcriptional attenuation, mRNA

degradation, mRNA stabilization and translation block.
MicroRNA: Sometimes found in plants, animals and some viruses. A small-non-coding RNA
molecule which has function in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene
expression.
Small interfering RNA: it has function to increase or decrease the production of specific
gene products (either protein or RNA) or in other words is Gene Regulation.

Some RNA molecules can function like enzymes and exert a catalytic action on themselves or on
other molecules. These ribozymes are diverse in size and sequence and differ in important aspects
of their three-dimensional structure and folding. Catalytic RNAs present a new target for drugs and
can be used for inactivating unwanted RNA or DNA molecules by a specific cleavage reaction.
A Ribozyme (ribonucleic acid enzyme) is an RNA molecule that is capable of catalyzing
specific biochemical reactions, similar to the action of protein enzymes. Ribozymes have roles in
replication, mRNA processing and splicing. These molecules can initiate their activities without the
assistance of additional protein components.

Sub Discussion III

In
biochemistry,
a ribonucleotide or ribotide is
a nucleotide containing ribose as
its pentose component. It is considered a molecular precursor of nucleic acids. Nucleotides are the
basic building blocks of DNA and RNA. The monomer itself from ribonucleotides forms the basic
building blocks for RNA. However, the reduction of ribonucleotide, by enzyme ribonucleotide
reductase (RNR), forms deoxyribonucleotide, which is the essential building block for DNA. There
are several differences between DNA deoxyribonucleotides and RNA ribonucleotides. Successive
nucleotides are linked together via phosphodiester bonds by 3'-5'.

Ribonucleotides are also utilized in other cellular functions. These special monomers are utilized in
both cell regulation and cell signaling as seen in adenosine-monophosphate (AMP). Furthermore,
ribonucleotides can be converted to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency in
organisms. Ribonucleotides can be converted to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) to
regulate hormones in organisms as well. In living organisms, the most common bases for
ribonucleotides are adenine (A), guanine (G),cytosine (C), or uracil (U). The nitrogenous bases are
classified into two parent compounds, purine and pyrimidine.

Summary

Functions of nucleic acids are:

The main functions is store and transfer genetic information.

To use the genetic information to direct the synthesis of new protein.

The deoxyribonucleic acid is the storage for place for genetic information in the cell.

DNA controls the synthesis of RNA in the cell.

The genetic information is transmitted from DNA to the protein synthesizers in the cell.

RNA also directs the production of new protein by transmitting genetic information to the
protein building structures.

The function of the nitrogenous base sequences in the DNA backbone determines the
proteins being synthesized.

The function of the double helix of the DNA is that no disorders occur in the genetic
information if it is lost or damaged.

RNA directs synthesis of proteins.

m-RNA takes genetic message from RNA.

t-RNA transfers activated amino acid, to the site of protein synthesis.

r-RNA are mostly present in the ribosomes, and responsible for stability of m-RNA.

References
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http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/rna-functions-352
http://www.ehow.com/about_5448833_functions-mrna-trna.html
http://www-ibmc.u-strasbg.fr/upr9002/westhof/PDF/r2000_FWalter_ELS.pdf
http://www.pnas.org/content/104/11/4618.full
http://microbe.net/simple-guides/fact-sheet-ribosomal-rna-rrna-the-details/