Nucleic AcidNucleic acids are biochemical macromolecules that are composed of nucleotide chains, the genetic building blocks of life. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are the most well known types of nucleic acid, and are found in living cells and viruses.
Nucleic acids are biopolymers found in high concentrations in the cell nuclei. The components of nucleic acids, nucleotide monomers, are themselves made up of three components: a purine or pyrimidine; a pentose sugar; and a phosphate group. The primary difference between nucleic acids is the specific sugar group in the chain.
RNA can have only adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil as nucleotides in its chain. DNA can have only adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. Adenine and cytosine pair together when the RNA or DNA are in a double-helix form; guanine and thymine or guanine and uracil pair together in their respective molecules. The pairing is joined by shared oxygens that form a phosphodiester group. These phosphate groups are attached to the carbon atoms denoted as the 3' and 5' carbons (numbered according to their order on the nucleic acid chain).
You may find single stranded or double-stranded nucleic acids, depending on their purpose. DNA is used primarily to transmit genetic information. RNA's primary function is to create enzymes and proteins.
Web Resources On Nucleic Acid
Nucleic Acid Database
Nucleic Acids Problem Set
Book Resources On Nucleic AcidNucleic Acids: Structures, Properties, and Functions by Victor A. Bloomfield, et al
Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology by by Michael G. Gait (Editor),
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