Difference between Nucleotide and Nucleoside

Nucleotide Definition

Nucleotides, a type of chemical molecule, are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They also participate in cell signalling, enzyme activities, and metabolic processes. A nucleotide is made up of a phosphate group, a sugar with five carbons, and a nitrogenous base. The four nitrogenous bases contained in DNA are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. RNA contains uracil instead of thymine. The genetic material in all known living creatures is composed of a chain of nucleotides. They also perform a variety of functions in addition to storing genetic information, including acting as molecules that move energy and messages.

A codon is a group of three nucleotides found in DNA that instructs the cell's proteins to link a particular protein to a group of nucleotides specified by the remainder of the DNA. Even where to halt and start the process is specified to the machinery by certain codons. DNA information is transformed into the language of proteins through a process called DNA translation. Once appropriately folded, this chain of amino acids can perform one of the cell's many functions.

Nucleotide Structure

Although the structure of a nucleotide is straightforward, the structure it can take when joined is complicated. Here is a picture of DNA. Two strands make up this molecule, which wraps around itself to generate hydrogen bonds in the centre for support. Because of the distinct structures of each of the nucleotides, this creation is possible.

Examples of Nucleotide

Adenine

Adenine is a member of the purine family, one of the two families of nitrogenous bases. The purine have nucleotide's double-ringed structure. In DNA, adenine and thymine connect one another. In RNA, adenine and uracil join. The nucleotide adenine functions as the base in adenosine triphosphate. From there, three phosphate groups can be connected. As a result, a lot of energy may be stored in the bonds. The same property that makes the sugar-phosphate backbone so strong also applies to the bonds in ATP. It pairs with special enzymes that have evolved to liberate the energy, which can then be transferred to other reactions and molecules.

Guanine

Guanine is a double-ringed purine nucleotide, just like adenine. It connects to cytosine to form a bond in both DNA and RNA. Three hydrogen bonds bind guanine and cytosine together. This makes the cytosine-guanine link slightly stronger than the thymine-adenine bond, which only produces two hydrogen bonds.

Cytosine

The other category of nucleotides is pyrimidines. A pyrimidine nucleotide with only one ring in its structure, cytosine. Cytosine and guanine join in both DNA and RNA. The two link together in a powerful combination with the nucleotide guanine...

Thymine

Thymine, like the nucleotide cytosine, is a pyrimidine nucleotide with a single ring. In DNA, it binds to adenine. RNA does not contain thymine. They are the weaker pair in DNA since there are only two hydrogen bonds they can make with adenine.

Uracil

A pyrimidine is also uracil. Everywhere that a thymine would typically be located, uracil is put instead during the transcription of DNA into RNA. Though uracil has certain distinguishing benefits and drawbacks, the exact cause for this is unclear. Most organisms do not use uracil because it degrades quickly into cytosine and has a short life span. However, as RNA is a short-lived molecule, uracil is favoured as a nucleotide in RNA.

Nucleotide Function

A nucleotide can have a variety of purposes in addition to being the fundamental building block of all living organisms' genetic material. The basic energy molecule of the cell, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is an illustration of a molecule in which a nucleotide can perform the function of a base. They can also be found in coenzymes like NAD and NADP, which are made from ADP and used in a variety of chemical reactions that affect metabolism. Another molecule that contains a nucleotide is called cyclic AMP (cAMP), a messenger molecule that is essential for many processes like controlling metabolism and sending chemical messages to cells. Nucleotides are the building blocks of life and can be combined to form a vast range of chemicals.

Nucleoside Definition

A pentose sugar molecule joined to a nitrogenous base or glucosamines is known as a nucleoside. A nucleotide without a phosphate group linked to it is another way to describe a nucleoside.

D-ribose sugar is present in RNA nucleosides as well as 2'-deoxy-D-ribose sugar in DNA nucleosides.

The key distinction is in the second position of the pentose structure, where there is no alcohol group, oxy group, or -OH group in the case of 2'-deoxy-ribose, thus the name.

In the instance of D-ribose pentose, the -OH group is present at the second position.

The pentoses are present in both forms in their tight five-membered ring structure known as the -furanose form.

Types of Nucleosides

Based on the existence of the compound's nitrogen base, the nucleosides can be separated into two categories.

1. Purine nucleosides,
2. Pyrimidine nucleosides

1. Nucleosides of purines

Adenine and Guanine, two nitrogenous bases, make up these nucleosides. Adenine and Guanine are the nucleosides found in RNA. The nucleosides in DNA are deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine.

2. Nucleosides of pyrimidine

Thymine, Cytosine, and Uracil are the three nitrogenous bases that make up these nucleotides. Cytidine and Uridine are the nucleosides found in RNA. The nucleosides in DNA are either deoxycytidine and thymidine or deoxythymidine.

Structure of Nucleoside

1. There are two primary heterocyclic components in the nucleosides. - Sugar with pentose
2. A puckered conformation would best describe this five-membered ring structure.
3. In RNA, the nucleosides have a D-ribose pentose ring structure, however in DNA, the nucleosides lack a -OH group at the second position and are hence referred to as 2' - deoxy - D- ribose.
4. Both forms of sugars contain the pentoses in their - furanose form.
5. At the first carbon atom (1'), the pentose sugar is joined to the nitrogenous base.
6. A glycosidic bond (N-glycosyl bond) holds it together).

Nitrogenous base

1. It is a nitrogen-containing cyclic carbon structure with base-like characteristics.
2. The bases are derived from pyrimidines and purines, two important parent molecules.
3. Adenine, Uracil, Cytosine, and Guanine are the nitrogenous bases found in RNA.
4. Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine are the nitrogenous bases found in DNA.
5. An N-glycosyl bond binds the bases to the pentose sugar covalently.
6. For purines, the N-9 atom forms a bond with the pentose sugar; for pyrimidines, the N-1 atom forms a bond with the pentose sugar.
7. Although purines and pyrimidines account for most of the bases, DNA also contains a few minor bases.
8. The majority of these minor bases can be found in methylated purines and pyrimidines.
9. The nucleotides in certain viral DNA could either be glycosylated or hydroxyl methylated.
10. N6-Methlyadenosine, 5-Methlycytidine, 7-Methlyguanosine, and 4-Thiouridine are a few of the odd bases found in DNA.

Functions of Nucleoside

1. Nucleotides contain nucleosides as a necessary component. They serve as nucleotide precursors. The nucleoside creates the nucleotide, which is the framework of DNA, when a phosphate group is joined to it.
2. Nucleoside compounds have a role in signalling.
3. Genetic information is regulated or safeguarded by minor bases or modified nitrogen bases in nucleosides.
4. A variety of nucleoside analogues have been used to treat viral infections, tumours, and cancer. Purine and pyrimidine bases are modified to achieve this.
5. The first medication authorised by the US FDA for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia was cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside).
6. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) illness is treated using a few nucleoside analogues. This therapy makes use of the drug lamivudine.
7. The movement of nucleosides across membranes is facilitated by nucleoside transporters.
8. Concentrative and equilibrate nucleoside transporters are the two diverse types. These transporters are crucial for moving antiviral and anti-cancer medications across membranes.

Difference between Nucleoside and Nucleotide

Now that we have understood what exactly Nucleotides and Nucleosides are, let's look at this table which highlights all the key differences between the two: