Concept in Definition ABC

In the nucleus of eukaryotic cells there is a substance, nuclein. This structure is what gives name to nucleic acids or nucleotides. Nucleotides are macromolecules of large complexityThey are made up of three other molecules: phosphoric acid, pentose or carbohydrate with five carbon atoms (it can be ribose or deoxyribose) and nitrogenous bases.

The structure of a nucleotide

The nucleotides of a cell They are the combination of a nitrogenous base and a type of sugar. The five most common nitrogenous bases are adenine, thymine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine. All of them are flat and complementary structures (for example, adenine always binds with tinin or uracil).

Regarding sugars, ribose is the most common in the nucleotides found in the RNA of cells and deoxyribose is the most common in the nucleotides found in the DNA. Therefore, nucleotides are made up of a nitrogenous base (for example, adenine) and a sugar such as deoxyribose.

The nitrogenous base is attached to a sugar through a bond called the n-glycosidic bond. This bond or union is established between carbon number 1 of ribose or deoxyribose and, on the other hand, nitrogen 1 of the base or nitrogen 9. The

molecule resulting is called nucleoside. Once the nucleoside is formed, the phosphoric acid is added to it and the nucleotide is definitively structured.

The study of nucleotides is essential in the biological study of living beings

First, these structures determine the formation of DNA and RNA. Second, nucleic acids are transmitters of Energy essential for cells to function properly (for example, in the process of photosynthesis of the plants). Finally, nucleotides can be part of coenzymes, that is, organic molecules that take part in chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes.

ATP is a nucleotide with very specific functions

ATP (an acronym in English that corresponds to adenosine triphosphate) stores the energy that a living organism obtains from the external environment. In this way, this molecule allows an organism to carry out all of its vital functions.

In fact, ATP is involved in the anabolic and metabolic reactions that occur in any body. In this sense, cells require mechanisms to to stock energy and ATP is the nucleotide responsible for this function.

Photos: Fotolia - YakobchukOlena / Alex

Nucleotide Topics