Is Adenine Used In Dna Replication :How, Why And Detailed facts

by

The principle of Chargaff states that the semi-conservative mode of DNA replication gives rise to two helices that includes an old as well as a new DNA strand.

Adenine is used in DNA replication as it is one of those nitrogenous bases that are used in the formation of nucleic acids. In DNA, adenine makes a bond with thymine with the help of two hydrogen bonds to serve the balancing of nucleic acid patterns.

How is adenine used in DNA replication?

Inside the DNA structure, adenine bases are present on one strand to form chemical bonds with thymine bases present on the opposite strand.

DNA has four nucleobases, and adenine is one of them. The three other chemical bases found in DNA are cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). Adenosine triphosphate is a molecular form of adenine that acts as a store of energy.

Inside the cell, the chemical reactions are taken care of by ATP. Adenine is one of the main building blocks out of four in the DNA. The characteristics of adenine include that it will always pair up with thymine, which is present on the opposite strand of DNA when they are in a double helix.

Among the purine nucleobases, adenine is used in the formation of nucleotides of the nucleic acids. Not only in DNA and RNA, it is also used all over in the cell. The cell receives its energy from a part of the adenine, that is, ATP. Thus, adenine plays double role inside the cell: buildings blocks of DNA and RNA; energy source of the cell.

The process when DNA makes a copy of its own is known as DNA replication. This happens in all living organisms, which is further essential for biological inheritance. DNA replication is necessary for the growth and repair of damaged tissues during cell division. The process also makes sure that each of the new cells formed receives a copy of their own DNA. The cell has its own characteristics of division that make DNA replication a unique process. 

Other bases of DNA include:

There are four other nucleotides or bases in DNA other than adenine (A). They are: cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). These bases pair up with each other as A with T and G with C.

The five nucleobases of DNA are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), thymine (T), and uracil (U). They are called primary or canonical. They give the genetic instructions. The bases A, G, C, and T are present in DNA, and A, G, C, and U are found in RNA.

Adenine and guanine have a structure similar to that of a fused-ring skeletal that originated from purine, and thus they are called the purine bases. These purine nitrogenous bases have characteristics like-they have one amino group (NH2) that is located at the C6 carbon of adenine and at the C2 carbon of guanine. Similar to this, cytosine, uracil, and thymine form a simple-ring structure that is derived from pyrimidine, and thus these three bases are known as the pyrimidine bases. 

Structure of bases :

At the edge of the structure of nucleic acid, the phosphate molecules bind two sugar-rings of two adjoining nucleotide monomers. As they connect with each other, they create a long chain of biomolecules.

The structure of DNA is a double helix and has two strands that are chemically located in opposite directions. This orientation allows the base pairing of the nucleotides. The pairing between the two bases is important for the DNA replication or transcription of genetic codes present in DNA.

The chain bonds of phosphates along with sugars (ribose or deoxyribose) form the “backbone” for the single or double helix structures of DNA. For each of the base pairs in the DNA strand, there is a purine and a pyrimidine. On considering the basis of the DNA, either it binds with t or C gets to bind with G. These pairs are referred to as purine pyrimidine bases, forming the basis of complement pairing and combining together to make a double helix. This structure is sometimes compared to the rungs of a ladder.

Both the forms of purines and pyrimidines pair up on their parts and are an outcome of dimensional constraints. This type of combination features geometry of permanent width for the helical structure of DNA. There is a presence of a double or triple bond of hydrogen between the carbonyl and the amine groups, which are based on C-G pairs and remain complemented as a base alternative to the DNA stands.

282px Base pair GC.svg
Image credit – Base pair – Wikipedia

Why is adenine used in DNA replication?

Inside the DNA strand, adenine forms chemical bonds with thymine using two hydrogen bonds that will help stabilize the nucleic acid composition.

Adenine, when combined with ribose, results in the formation of adenosine. On the other hand, when adenine reacts with deoxyribose, it produces deoxyadenosine. When adenosine is added to three phosphate groups, it gives rise to the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Adenosine triphosphate carries out the chemical energy transfer between the chemical reactions and is one of the basic methods that are used in cellular metabolism. Adenine forms a chemical bond with uracil in RNA that is used for protein synthesis. Adenine is responsible for cell respiration and plays a key role in the synthesis of proteins.

Adenine is considered one of the most important organic bases that are needed for life. It is referred to as purine, and makes up a large portion of the genetic makeup of cellular life. It helps in the formation of nucleotides. A DNA strand is formed when adenine binds with thymine. The chemical formula of adenine is C5H5N5. In the world of chemistry, adenine plays different roles in the formation of either DNA or RNA.

Also Read: