Nucleic acids are organic biomolecules that contain heterocyclic rings. They are composed of nucleotides which contain a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate group. Nucleotides polymerize to form long chains with phosphodiester bonds between the sugar and phosphate groups. There are four nucleotides in DNA: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. Nucleic acids function to store and transfer genetic information, with DNA controlling cellular functions and RNA involved in protein synthesis.

1. NUCLEIC
ACIDS
Presented by,
Revathi Gnanavelou, M.Pharm
Department of Pharmaceutical chemistry
SVCP

2. Are Organic Biomolecules containing Heterocyclic rings
Made up of Monomers  Polymer of nucleotides
Composed of nitrogenous base, pentose sugar and
Phosphate group
Backbone of nucleic acid made up of long chain of sugar and
phosphate molecules by Phosphodiester bonds
It is known as Primary structure of nucleic acid
NUCLEIC ACIDS

3. NUCLEOTIDES
• Four nucleotides or bases, in DNA:
• adenine (A),
• cytosine (C),
• guanine (G), and
• thymine (T).

4. BASIC MOEITY NUMBERING

5. • 3’ – OH group of sugar in one nucleotide forms
an ester bond with the phosphate group on the
5’-carbon of sugar of the next nucleotide
• A nucleoside is made of nitrogenous base
(adenine, guanine, thyamine, cytosine and uracil)
attached to a pentose sugar.
• Polymerized nucleotides form DNA and RNA
which are genetic material.
• Basic structural units are ribose and deoxyribose
for RNA & DNA

6. Basic molecules of DNA & RNA

7. CHEMICAL NATURE
Polymer of Nucleotides
Backbone of nucleic acid is made of alternating sugar &
Phosphate molecules bonded together in a long chain i.e.
Phosphodiester bonds and a base
Formed with C,O,N and P
2 types
DNA RNA

8. DNA
• Composed of;
Phosphate group,
carbon sugar (deoxyribose) &
nitrogenous base

9. RNA
• Composed of
 Ribose,
Phosphate and Base
Are synthesized from DNA
Involved in Protein
synthesis

10. FUNCTIONS
• DNA is the Basic Molecules of Heredity
• Store house of genetic information & reproduction
• DNA controls the cellular functions
• DNA Involved in RNA synthesis which is further converted into
proteins
• Blue Print for new cells
• RNA  transfers genetic information from nucleus to
cytoplasm for protein synthesis

11. BIOLOGICAL ROLE
• DNA  Basic structural and functional unit of heredity
• RNA molecules Responsible for protein synthesis
• Nucleic acid  Reserve bank of genetic information
• DNA controls cellular functions
• Responsible for maintaining identity of different organisms
for millions of years
• Used in treatment of cancer, Cardiovascular & autoimmune
diseases.