Nucleotide and nucleoside are two important terms in the study of biology. Though they sound alike, they have very different meanings. This article will explain the difference between these two terms, and how they are related to one another.
What is Nucleotide?
Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They are made up of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar molecule is ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA. The four nitrogenous bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
Nucleotides are joined together by phosphodiester bonds to form long strands of DNA or RNA. The sequence of nucleotides determines the genetic information contained in these molecules. Nucleotides are also important energy storage molecules in cells. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary source of energy for most cellular processes. Nucleotides are also involved in cell signaling and help to regulate many biochemical reactions.
What is Nucleoside?
- Nucleosides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, which are essential for all known forms of life. Nucleosides consist of a nucleobase (also known as a nitrogenous base) and sugar, which are bonded together. The most common nucleobases are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine, which are also found in DNA. Nucleosides can be further modified to form nucleotides, which serve as the monomers of nucleic acids. Nucleotides consist of a nucleobase, sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.
- In addition to serving as the monomers of nucleic acids, nucleotides also play important roles in energy metabolism and signal transduction. Nucleotides can be phosphorylated to form ATP, GTP, CTP, and UTP, which are all essential for cellular metabolism.
- Nucleotides can also be used to transmit signals between cells (e.g., cAMP and cGMP). Given their essential role in all known forms of life, it is not surprising that nucleosides and nucleotides have been the subject of intense scientific research.
Difference between Nucleotide and Nucleoside
Nucleotide and Nucleoside may sound similar, but they are actually quite different. A Nucleotide is a molecular unit that consists of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. Nucleosides, on the other hand, are simply the sugar and nitrogenous base units of nucleotides.
While nucleotides are essential for the formation of nucleic acids, nucleosides can exist on their own. In fact, many viral infections are caused by nucleoside analogs – molecules that mimic the structure of nucleosides in order to hijack cellular mechanisms. Ultimately, nucleotides and nucleosides play very different roles in the body, and it is important to understand the difference between them.
Conclusion
Nucleotide and nucleoside are two important terms in the study of DNA and RNA. They differ in their structure and function, which is why it’s important to understand the difference between them. We hope this article has helped clarify the distinction for you.
