Every living organism contains two types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the macromolecule that stores the full complement of genetic information of every individual. This information represents the chemical basis of heredity, which in the form of a code is organized into genes. RNA is the macromolecule involved in the process of conveying the genetic information from the DNA to synthesis of proteins. Understanding the basic biochemistry of nucleic acids and proteins is fundamental for complete appreciation of the mechanisms by which extracellular signals affect gene expression and ultimately the biological responses.
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- 2-deoxy-D-ribose:
-
deoxyribose
- 3′-UT:
-
3′untranslated region
- 5′-UT:
-
5′untranslated region
- A:
-
adenine or adenosine
- AMP:
-
adenosine 5-monophosphate
- bp:
-
base pairs
- C:
-
cytosine or cytidine
- CAP:
-
capped mRNA
- CMP:
-
cytidine 5′-monophosphate
- D:
-
dihydrouridine
- dAMP:
-
deoxyadenosine monophosphate
- dCMP:
-
deoxycytidine monophosphate
- dCMP:
-
deoxyribose cytidine 5′-monophosphate
- dGMP:
-
deoxyguanosine monophosphate
- DNA:
-
deoxyribonucleic acid
- D-ribose:
-
ribose
- dTMP:
-
deoxythymidine monophosphate
- G:
-
guanine or guanosine
- GMP:
-
guanosine 5-monophosphate
- hnRNA:
-
heteronuclear RNA
- I:
-
inosine
- MG:
-
methylguanosine
- MI:
-
methylinosine
- microRNA:
-
micro RNA
- mRNA:
-
messenger RNA
- OH:
-
hydroxil group
- Poly-A:
-
poly-adenylated tail at the 3′end of the mRNA
- RNA:
-
ribonucleic acid
- RNAses:
-
enzymes that specifically degrade RNA
- rRNA:
-
ribosomal RNA
- RT:
-
ribothymidine
- siRNA:
-
small interfering RNA
- snoRNA:
-
small nucleolar RNA
- snRNA:
-
small nuclear RNA
- T:
-
thymine or thymidine
- tRNA:
-
transfer RNA
- Tx:
-
transcription start site
- U:
-
uracil or uridine
- UMP:
-
uridine monophosphate
- ψ:
-
pseudouridine
- ΨU:
-
pseudouridilic acid
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Chedrese, P.J. (2009). Introduction to Molecular Biology: Structure and Function of the Macromolecules of Genetic Information. In: Chedrese, P. (eds) Reproductive Endocrinology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88186-7_4
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