Nucleotide

A nucleotide is a monomer or the structural unit of nucleotide chains forming nucleic acids as RNA and DNA. A nucleotide consists of a heterocyclic nucleobase, a pentose sugar (ribose or deoxiribose), and a phosphate or polyphosphate group. Nucleotides also play important roles in cellular energy transport and transformations (notably ATP and NAD+/NADH), and in enzyme regulation (see for example, protein kinase).

Related Topics:
Monomer - Nucleic acid - RNA - DNA - Heterocyclic - Nucleobase - Pentose - Sugar - Phosphate - Group - Cell - ATP - NAD+/NADH - Protein kinase

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The nucleobase can be purines or pyrimidines, the sugar can be deoxyribose in DNA or ribose in RNA, and the phosphate chain can be a monophosphate, diphosphate, or triphosphate. A nucleotide that lacks the phosphate group is called nucleoside.

Related Topics:
Purine - Pyrimidine - Deoxyribose - Ribose - Nucleoside

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