Nucleotides

Nucleotides are organic molecules that serve as the subunits of nucleic acids like DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). They are compounds made of three components: a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and at least one phosphate group.

Structure

Nucleotides are composed of three fundamental units: a molecule of sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar component can be either ribose or deoxyribose. The nitrogenous base can be either a purine or a pyrimidine.

Function

Nucleotides play a crucial role in various biological processes. They serve as building blocks for the synthesis of nucleic acids, carry energy within cells in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and are important components of coenzymes. They also function in cellular signaling and metabolism.

Types of Nucleotides

There are two types of nucleotides: ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides. Ribonucleotides are the basic units of RNA, and deoxyribonucleotides are the basic units of DNA.

Synthesis

Nucleotides can be synthesized in a variety of ways. They can be synthesized from amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids through the de novo synthesis pathway. They can also be synthesized from preformed bases and sugar through the salvage pathway.

See Also

• Nucleic acid
• DNA
• RNA
• ATP
• Coenzyme

References

Nucleotides Resources
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