Question

Both polypeptides (proteins) and polynucleotides (RNA and DNA) are characterized by their primary structure. Briefly define that term with reference to each type of biomolecule. Then, briefly describe the connection between the two - that is, how the primary structure of nucleic acids translates to the primary structure of a protein.

Answer 1

The primary structure of DNA and RNA are made up of nucleotides joining side by side via phosphodiester bonds. DNA is a double stranded molecule having deoxyribose as the sugar moiety whereas RNA is single stranded having ribose sugar. Nucleotides are made up of a sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a nitrogenous base (Adenosine, guanosine, cytosine, thymine or uracil) and phoshate groups. These nucleotides in DNA are Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine while RNA contains all expcept Uracil instead of Thymine.

The primary structure of proteins consitute of the amino acid sequnces that has been translated from the mRNA.

The central dogma reveals that cell contains DNA is transcribed to mRNA and this mRNA then is translated to protein. DNA which is our genetic material is the source of all information that is required for cells to form proteins. mRNAs are intermediates in this conversion step.

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