Nucleosides and nucleotides are both organic compounds that are essential building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.
QUICK ANSWER: Nucleosides and nucleotides have a fundamental difference in their chemical composition. The main difference between nucleosides and nucleotides is the presence of phosphate groups. Nucleosides consist of a nitrogenous base and a sugar molecule, while nucleotides consist of these two components along with one or more phosphate groups.
A nucleoside consists of two components: a nitrogenous base and a sugar molecule. The nitrogenous base can be adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), or uracil (U). The sugar molecule in RNA is typically a five-carbon sugar called ribose, while in DNA it is called deoxyribose. The nitrogenous base is attached to the sugar molecule through a glycosidic bond. adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, uridine, and thymidine, are examples of nucleosides.
A nucleotide consists of three components: a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and one or more phosphate groups. Nucleotides are formed when a phosphate group is attached to the 5′ carbon of the sugar molecule in a nucleoside. The number of phosphate groups can vary, with one phosphate group referred to as a monophosphate, two being called a diphosphate, and three as a triphosphate. Nucleotides are named based on the nucleoside they are derived from, followed by the number of phosphate groups. For example, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is derived from the nucleoside adenosine.
The addition of phosphate groups to nucleosides in nucleotides is essential for their role in cellular processes. Nucleotides are the building blocks for the synthesis of DNA and RNA strands. They are also involved in energy transfer and storage, cell signaling, and enzymatic reactions within the body. The presence of phosphate groups in nucleotides allows them to form phosphodiester bonds between adjacent nucleotides, which create the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules.
Nomenclature Nucleosides and Nucleotides
| Nucleoside | Nucleotide (monophosphate ) | Nucleotide (diphosphate) | Nucleotide (triphosphate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenosine | Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) | Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) | Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) |
| Guanosine | Guanosine monophosphate (GMP) | Guanosine diphosphate (GDP) | Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) |
| Cytidine | Cytidine monophosphate (CMP) | Cytidine diphosphate (CDP) | Cytidine triphosphate (CTP) |
| Uridine | Uridine monophosphate (UMP) | Uridine diphosphate (UDP) | Uridine triphosphate (UTP) |
| Thymidine | Thymidine monophosphate (TMP) | Thymidine diphosphate (TDP) | Thymidine triphosphate (TTP) |
