What are the differences between amino acid and nucleic acid?
Posted February 23, 2024
Basis of differentiation |
Amino acid |
Nucleic acid |
Definition |
Is the building block of proteins |
Is the genetic material of living things |
Chemical nature |
Is a simple organic molecule that contains both carboxyl and amino groups |
Is a complex organic macromolecule such as DNA or RNA, made up of many nucleotides linked in a long chain |
Atoms |
C, H, O, N, and S |
C, H, O, N, and P |
Functional groups |
Contains carboxylic groups and amino groups |
Contains pentose sugars, nitrogenous bases and phosphate groups |
Polymer/Monomer |
Is a monomer |
Is a polymer |
Type of bonds between monomers |
Peptide bonds occur between amino acids |
Phosphodiester bonds occur between nucleotides |
Serves as a foundation for |
Proteins |
Nucleotide |
General structure |
Contains a hydrogen atom, a side chain (R group), a carboxyl group and an amine group attached to a central carbon atom |
Contains a large number of nucleotides bonded to each other via phosphodiester bonds |
Types |
Many types depending on the R group |
2 major types - DNA and RNA |
Synthesis |
May be synthesized or obtained from the diet |
Are synthesized inside the cell by DNA replication and transcription |
Functions |
Is used in mRNA translation as building blocks of proteins |
Stores genetic information of the cell and is involved in synthesis of functional proteins |
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