Nucleobase
Nucleobase
Nucleobase (pronounced: /ˈnjuː.kli.oʊ.beɪs/), also known as nitrogenous base or simply base, is a fundamental component of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.
Etymology
The term "nucleobase" is derived from the words "nucleus", referring to the central part of an atom, and "base", which in this context refers to a substance that can accept protons or donate pairs of electrons. The term reflects the role of nucleobases in the formation of the nucleic acids that make up the genetic material in the nucleus of a cell.
Description
Nucleobases are organic molecules that serve as the building blocks of nucleic acids. They are composed of a nitrogen-containing ring structure, which is attached to a sugar molecule and one or more phosphate groups to form a nucleotide. There are five primary nucleobases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U). Adenine and guanine are classified as purines, while cytosine, thymine, and uracil are classified as pyrimidines.
Function
In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. In RNA, adenine pairs with uracil and guanine pairs with cytosine. These pairings are crucial for the replication of genetic material and the transcription of genetic information into proteins.
Related Terms
- Nucleotide: A nucleotide is a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA.
- Nucleoside: A nucleoside is a compound consisting of a nucleobase linked to a sugar molecule.
- Purine: Purine is a type of nucleobase that includes adenine and guanine.
- Pyrimidine: Pyrimidine is a type of nucleobase that includes cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nucleobase
- Wikipedia's article - Nucleobase
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski