Q. 17.8 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Identify each of the following as a nucleoside of a nucleotide:

a. deoxythymidine

b. guanosine

c. deoxyadenosine monophosphate

d. uridine monophosphate

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Part a) Deoxythymidine is identified and determined as nucleoside

Part b) Guanosine is identified and determined as nucleoside

Part c) Deoxyadenosine monophosphate is identified and determined as nucleotide

Part d) Uridine monophosphate is identified and determined as nucleotide

(Part a )Step 1 : General introduction

Nucleic acids are organic macromolecules that are present all over the cell. They were first discovered in the nuclei of cells. Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are found in all known forms of life. 

One of the components of nucleotide structure is nitrogen bases. Purines and pyrimidines are nitrogen bases that form various nucleotide structures.

(Part a ) Step 2 : Nucleoside and Nucleotide

One of the nitrogen bases and a five-carbon sugar, either ribose or deoxyribose, make up a nucleoside. A nucleotide is made up of three parts: a sugar with five carbons, a nitrogen base, and a phosphate group. 

The $N$-glycosidic connection connects the nitrogen atom of the base to the carbon 1 of the sugar, while the sugar's carbon $5$ forms an ester linkage with the phosphate group.

(part a ) Step 3 : Introduction

The objective is to identify whether the component is nucleotide and nucleoside

(part a) Step 4 : Explanation

(a) Deoxythymidine is a nucleoside found in DNA that comprises the nitrogen base thymine ($\mathrm{T}$) and the sugar unit deoxyribose. The $N$-glycosidic link connects the nitrogen atom in the nitrogen base to the carbon of the deoxyribose sugar.

(part b) Step 5 : Introduction

The objective is to identify whether the component is nucleoside and nucleotide

(part b) Step 6 : Explanation

b) 

Guanosine is a nucleoside found in RNA that comprises the nitrogen base guanine ($\mathrm{G}$) and the sugar unit ribose. The nitrogen atom in the nitrogen base is joined to the carbon 1 of the ribose sugar by a $N$ glycosidic link.

(part c) Step 7 : Introduction

The objective is to identify whether the components are nucleoside and nucleotide

(part c) Step 8 : Explanation

(c) Deoxyadenosine monophosphate is a DNA nucleotide that contains the nitrogen base adenine ($\mathrm{A}$), as well as a deoxyribose sugar unit and a phosphate group.

The nitrogen atom in the nitrogen base creates an $N$-glycosidic connection with the carbon of the deoxyribose sugar, while the sugar's carbon forms an ester bond with the phosphate group.

(part d) Step 9 : Introduction

The objective is to identify whether the components are nucleoside and nucleotide

(part d) Step 10 : Explanation

d) 

Uridine monophosphate is a nucleotide found in RNA that consists of the nitrogen base uracil ($\mathrm{U}$), a ribose sugar unit, and a phosphate group.