Draw a structural formula of the DNA tetranucleotide \(5^{\prime}\)-A-G-C-T-3'. Estimate the net charge on this tetranucleotide at \(\mathrm{pH} 7.0\). What is the complementary tetranucleotide to this sequence?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The complementary tetranucleotide sequence to the DNA tetranucleotide 5'-A-G-C-T-3' is 5'-T-C-G-A-3'. The net charge on the tetranucleotide at pH 7.0 is -2.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the DNA structure and base pairing

DNA is a double-stranded molecule composed of two long chains of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide unit is composed of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), or Thymine (T). DNA strand has a directionality, 5' to 3' (pronounced "five prime to three prime"). In a DNA double helix, the two chains run antiparallel to each other, and bases form hydrogen bonds between them (base pairing) following the rule: A pairs with T (forming 2 hydrogen bonds) and G pairs with C (forming 3 hydrogen bonds).
02

Draw the structural formula of the DNA tetranucleotide 5'-A-G-C-T-3'

To draw the structural formula of the DNA tetranucleotide 5'-A-G-C-T-3', we need to connect each nucleotide in the given order (A-G-C-T) from the 5'-end to the 3'-end: - 5'-A: Adenine nucleotide at the 5' end - G: Guanine nucleotide - C: Cytosine nucleotide - 3'-T: Thymine nucleotide at the 3' end Please see the attached image for the structural formula of the DNA tetranucleotide 5'-A-G-C-T-3': [attachment type="image/png" id="attached image"]
03

Estimate the net charge on the tetranucleotide at pH 7.0

At pH 7.0, each nitrogenous base can carry a charge depending on its acid-base properties. The net charge on a DNA molecule depends on the sum of the charges of its individual nucleotide units. However, since we are dealing with a neutral pH, only the phosphate groups at the ends of the molecule will be ionized (each carrying a negative charge due to the release of protons). Therefore, the net charge of the 5'-A-G-C-T-3' tetranucleotide at pH 7.0 will be: Net Charge = -1 (charge on the 5' phosphate group) - 1 (charge on the 3' phosphate group) = -2
04

Determine the complementary tetranucleotide sequence

To find the complementary tetranucleotide sequence to 5'-A-G-C-T-3', we need to use the base pairing rules: - A pairs with T - G pairs with C So, the complementary sequence will be: 5'-T-C-G-A-3'

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