Introduction to DNA Structure

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DNA
DNA is oIten called
the blueprint oI liIe.
In simple terms,
DNA contains the
instructions Ior
making proteins
within the cell.

romosomes and DNA
Our genes are on
our chromosomes.
Chromosomes are
made up oI a
chemical called
DNA.


Te Sape of te Molecule
DNA is a very
long polymer.
The basic shape
is like a twisted
ladder or zipper.
This is called a
double helix.


Te Double Helix Molecule
The DNA double
helix has two
strands twisted
together.



One Strand of DNA
The backbone oI
the molecule is
alternating
pospate and
deoxyribose, a
sugar, parts.
The teeth are
nitrogenous
bases.
phosphate
deoxyribose
bases


One Strand of DNA
One strand oI DNA
is a polymer oI
nucleotides.
One strand oI DNA
has many millions
oI nucleotides.
nucleotide


Two Stranded DNA
Remember, DNA
has two strands
that Iit together
something like a
zipper.
The teeth are the
nitrogenous bases
but why do they
stick together?

C
C
C
C
N
N
O
N
C
C
C
C
N
N
O
N
N
N

Hydrogen Bonds
The bases attract each
other because oI
hydrogen bonds.
Hydrogen bonds are
weak but there are
millions and millions
oI them in a single
molecule oI DNA.
(The bonds between
cytosine and guanine
are shown here.)


Hydrogen Bonds, cont.
When making
hydrogen bonds,
cytosine always pairs
up with guanine,
And adenine always
pairs up with
thymine.
(Adenine and thymine
are shown here.)
C
C
C
C
N
N
O
O
C

Important:
Adenine and Thymine always join
together
A T
Cytosine and Guanine always join
together
G

DNA by te numbers
Eac cell as about 2 m
of DNA.
Te average uman as
75 trillion cells.
Te average uman as
enoug DNA to go from
te eart to te sun
more tan 400 times.
DNA as a diameter of
only 0.000000002 m.
The earth is 150 billion m
or 93 million miles Irom
the sun.



ontents
O Components oI DNA
O !urine Bases
O !yrimidine Bases
O Deoxyribose Sugar
O Nucleosides
O Nucleotides
O Base !airs
O DNA Backbone
O DNA Double Helix
O DNA Helix Axis
omponents of DNA
DNA is a polymer. The monomer units oI DNA are nucleotides, and the polymer is
known as a "polynucleotide." Each nucleotide consists oI a 5-carbon sugar
(deoxyribose), a nitrogen containing base attached to the sugar, and a phosphate
group. There are Iour diIIerent types oI nucleotides Iound in DNA, diIIering only
in the nitrogenous base. The Iour nucleotides are given one letter abbreviations as
shorthand Ior the Iour bases.
O A is Ior adenine
O G is Ior guanine
O C is Ior cytosine
O T is Ior thymine
Two Kinds of Bases in DNA
!yrimidines are
single ring bases.
!urines are double
ring bases.
C
C
C
C
N
N
O
N
C
C
C
C
N
N
N
N
N

Purine Bases
Adenine and guanine are purines. !urines are the larger oI the two types oI bases
Iound in DNA. Structures are shown below:
Adenine and Guanine are
purines
Adenine and guanine each have two
rings oI carbon and nitrogen atoms.
C
C
C
C
N
N
N
Adenine
N
N

C
C
C
C
N
N
O
N
Guanine
N
N

Pyrimidine Bases
Cytosine and thymine are pyrimidines. The 6 stoms (4 carbon, 2 nitrogen) are
numbered 1-6. Like purines, all pyrimidine ring atoms lie in the same plane.

Tymine and ytosine are
pyrimidines
Thymine and cytosine each have one
ring oI carbon and nitrogen atoms.
C
C
C
C
N
N
O
N
cytosine
C
C
C
C
N
N
O
O
thymine
C


Deoxyribose Sugar
The deoxyribose sugar oI the DNA backbone has 5 carbons and 3 oxygens. The
carbon atoms are numbered 1', 2', 3', 4', and 5' to distinguish Irom the numbering oI
the atoms oI the purine and pyrmidine rings. The hydroxyl groups on the 5'- and 3'-
carbons link to the phosphate groups to Iorm the DNA backbone. Deoxyribose
lacks an hydroxyl group at the 2'-position when compared to ribose, the sugar
component oI RNA.
Nucleosides
A nucleoside is one oI the Iour DNA bases covalently attached to the C1' position
oI a sugar. The sugar in deoxynucleosides is 2'-deoxyribose. The sugar in
ribonucleosides is ribose. Nucleosides diIIer Irom nucleotides in that they lack
phosphate groups. The Iour diIIerent nucleosides oI DNA are deoxyadenosine
(dA), deoxyguanosine (dG), deoxycytosine (dC), and (deoxy)thymidine (dT, or T).
Nucleotides
A nucleotide is a nucleoside with one or more phosphate groups covalently
attached to the 3'- and/or 5'-hydroxyl group(s).
DNA Backbone
The DNA backbone is a polymer with an alternating sugar-phosphate sequence. The deoxyribose
sugars are joined at both the 3'-hydroxyl and 5'-hydroxyl groups to phosphate groups in ester
links, also known as "phosphodiester" bonds.
DNA Double Helix
DNA is a normally double stranded macromolecule. Two polynucleotide chains, held together by
weak thermodynamic Iorces, Iorm a DNA molecule.
Structure of DNA Double Helix






eatures of te DNA Double Helix
O Two DNA strands Iorm a helical spiral, winding around a helix axis in a right-handed
spiral
O The two polynucleotide chains run in opposite directions
O The sugar-phosphate backbones oI the two DNA strands wind around the helix axis like
the railing oI a sprial staircase
O The bases oI the individual nucleotides are on the inside oI the helix, stacked on top oI
each other like the steps oI a spiral staircase.
Base Pairs
Within the DNA double helix, A Iorms 2 hydrogen bonds with T on the opposite strand, and G
Iorms 3 hyrdorgen bonds with C on the opposite strand.

DNA Helix Axis
The helix axis is most apparent Irom a view directly down the axis. The sugar-phosphate
backbone is on the outside oI the helix where the polar phosphate groups (red and yellow atoms)
can interact with the polar environment. The nitrogen (blue atoms) containing bases are inside,
stacking perpendicular to the helix axis.
unction of DNA
O Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic code which ensures that
daughter cells inherit the same characteristics as the parent cells
O DNA is the code Irom which all protein is synthesised
O All prokaryotes, eukaryote and some viruses have DNA
O All DNA code is composed Irom Iour nucleotide bases, Adenine ytosine,
Guanine and Tymine.
O DNA also contains all the genetic coding which is used to control Iunctions,
behavior and development oI an organism.
O DNA is also used as a long term storage device to store the genetic
instructions. These instructions must be correct so the DNA can make an
exact copy oI itselI.
O The Iunction oI DNA in a cell is to code the way proteins turn genes on or
oII