structure and function of nucleic acids

The nucleic acids can be described as the cell’s information molecules. 

Nucleic acid is a large molecule formed of nucleotides. Nucleotides refer to a string or polymer of units. The molecular structure of nucleic acids involves DNA and RNA. Living organisms on Earth use up these acids as a medium for recording information related to heredity. 

Examples of Nucleic Acids

The most common examples of nucleic acids found in nature are DNA and RNA. The majority of life on Earth is formed from them. DNA and RNA store the information required for the production of proteins. These proteins are essential for completing the functions necessary for the survival and reproduction of cells. 

An important point to note here is that DNA and RNA are not the only examples of nucleic acids. Experts have been able to create artificial nucleic acids. The artificial nucleic acid’s functioning is similar to the function of natural nucleic acids. Suggestions have even come from scientists to develop an “artificial life form” using artificial nucleic acids. 

The variation comes in nucleic acids from one organism to another based on the sequence of nucleotides in the nucleic acid. Cellular machinery reads this sequence to connect with amino acids in the correct sequence. This results in the forming of complex protein molecules with particular functions.

The function of Nucleic Acids

The function of nucleic acids has been described below:

1. Storing and Copying of Information:

The most important function of nucleic acids is to act as carriers of information in living organisms. The reason for this is that the creation of nucleic acids can take place with four “bases,” and the copying of information is allowed under “base-pairing rules.”  

This copying takes place by utilizing one strand of nucleic acids to create another. Nucleic acids can store and copy information.

To understand this copying process more thoroughly, you can compare it to the computer binary codes. Even though the DNA codes and binary codes are extremely different in specifics, they are the same. So, the creation of entire virtual realities can take place by computers by reading 1s and 0s strings. Similarly, the result of living organisms is possible from cells by reading the four DNA base pairs strings.

2. Protection of the Information:

The DNA source code is extremely crucial and essential to a cell. Therefore, its protection from potential damage should be an important function of nucleic acids. For the transportation of DNA-related information to other cell parts, copies of this information are formed by RNA, a nucleic acid type.

DNA utilizes RNA as a protective mechanism; thereby, the DNA is separated from the cytoplasm’s chaotic environment. This way, the DNA is effectively protected within the nucleus. Outside of the nucleus, complex DNA strands could have been easily destroyed by the movements of organelles, vesicles and other cellular components.

Nucleic Acids Structure

The formation of nucleic acids takes place from huge polymers. These polymers can take on various types of shapes. So, the structure of nucleic acid can be explained in multiple manners. The nucleic acid structure can take on four forms which are as follows:

• Primary Structure
• Secondary Structure
• Tertiary Structure
• Quaternary Structure

1. Primary Structure:

This refers to the sequence of the nucleic acid’s nucleotide bases. The primary structure also relates to how these nucleotide bases are covalently bonded to each other. The series of “letters” in a DNA or RNA strand becomes part of the nucleic acid’s primary structure.

Nucleotides are the nucleic acid’s building blocks. Moreover, the formation of the “letters” of the genetic “code” comprises of two components which are as follows:

• A nitrogenous base involving uracil, thymine, guanine, cytosine, and adenine. 
• A sugar-phosphate backbone that facilitates the stringing together of nitrogenous bases. The linking of each nucleotide’s sugar can take place to another nucleotide’s phosphate. This results in the formation of a single molecule.  

2. Secondary Structure:

Secondary structure refers to the way hydrogen bonds are based on each other by the nucleotide. It also relates to the shape created out of their two strands.

The most common secondary structure is the double helix, in which the two DNA hydrogen complementary strands bond with each other.  

3. Tertiary structure:

This refers to the position of a nucleic acid’s atoms in space. There are various common measurements whose discussion can occur when talking about a nucleic acid’s tertiary structure. Such measurements are as follows.

•  “Handedness”- Asymmetrical molecules very much resemble human hands. So, their measurement can take place in this manner.  
• The difference in size between major grooves and minor grooves.
• Helix turn length.
• The number of base pairs per turn.

4. Quaternary Structure:

This refers to the large structures whose formation is possible by nucleic acids. Nucleic acids can make large structures, just like proteins and amino acids. Chromatids are a good quaternary structure example. Chromatids refer to huge DNA molecules whose packing takes place tightly for storage and transportation purposes during cell division.

Conclusion

The nucleic acids refer to the cell’s information molecules. A nucleic acid is a large molecule that is made up of nucleotides. DNA and RNA are involved in the molecular structure of nucleic acids. They are the most common nucleic acid examples in nature. Experts have also produced artificial nucleic acids. The function of nucleic acids involves storing and protecting DNA-related information. The structure of nucleic acids can be the primary structure, secondary structure, tertiary structure, and quaternary structure.