Difference Between Sugar in the DNA and RNA

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: April 30, 2023

       

Difference Between Sugar in the DNA and RNA

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Introduction

DNA is an abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, while RNA is an abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. Although DNA and RNA both contain genetic information, they have significant distinctions. The sugar deoxyribose is found in DNA, whereas ribose is found in RNA. Ribose and deoxyribose vary simply because ribose contains one more -OH group than deoxyribose, which has -H connected to the ring's second (2') carbon. DNA contains all of the information about our genes. Ribose is the sugar present in RNA, while deoxyribose is the sugar found in DNA; both are 5-carbon sugars. Both forms of sugars are essential nucleotide components.

The sugars present in nucleic acid are pentose sugars, which are a component of DNA. RNA, on the other hand, is a complementary molecule to DNA. RNA and DNA interact in a sophisticated way to generate the enormous diversity of life that we observe in the world. They're made up of nucleic acid, phosphate, and sugar. RNA is a nucleic acid and an amino acid. The nucleic acid is composed of five carbons, of which two are carbons. The second carbon has a hydroxyl group, while the third contains hydrogen. RNA contains five sugar molecules, the first of which is ribose. These five molecules encode genetic information.

Sugar in DNA vs Sugar in RNA

Each cell includes DNA as well as genetic information. The needed protein is then translated into RNA through the transcription process. The nucleotide units of DNA and RNA are repeated. The nucleotide is made up of nucleic acid, phosphate, and sugar. The nucleotide units of DNA and RNA are repeated. The nucleotide is made up of nucleic acid, phosphate, and sugar. The primary distinction between sugar in DNA and RNA is that DNA is formed of deoxyribose sugar, while RNA is built of the ribose sugar. DNA sugar is also known as 2-deoxyribose and dideoxy ribose. Meanwhile, D-ribose is the sugar found in RNA. DNA has fewer hydroxyl atoms than RNA.

Emil Fisher discovered ribose in 1891. D-ribose is another name for ribose. Ribose is essential in transcribing, as indicated in the second paragraph. ATP and NADH both need ribose. Phoebus, on the other hand, found deoxyribose. In DNA, thymine is chemically bonded to deoxyribose. Meanwhile, in RNA, the nucleobase uracil is chemically bonded to ribose. 2-deoxyribose and dideoxy ribose are other names for deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is categorised as a monosaccharide. Ribose is commercially accessible easily. It is made in the form of pills, powders, and other products. Deoxyribose is not commercially available. RNA is likewise made up of nucleotides, and ribose sugar is one of them. The sugar component is found in both DNA and RNA. In RNA, the nucleobase uracil is chemically bonded to ribose.

Difference between Sugar in DNA and RNA in Tabular Form

Parameters of Comparison Sugar in DNA Sugar in RNA
Sugar DNA is made up of deoxyribose sugar. RNA is made up of ribose sugar
Function DNA is responsible for the replication and storage of genetic information. It is a blueprint for all of an organism's genetic information. RNA translates the genetic information in DNA into a format that can be utilised to construct proteins and then transports it to ribosome protein factories.
Bases Adenine ('A'), Thymine ('T'), Guanine ('G'), and Cytosine ('C') are the bases in DNA. Adenine ('A'), Guanine ('G'), and Cytosine ('C') are shared by RNA and DNA, while Uracil ('U') replaces Thymine.
Hydroxyl Atoms DNA has fewer hydroxyl atoms than RNA. RNA contains more hydroxyl atoms than DNA.
Nitrogenous Base In DNA, thymine is chemically bonded to deoxyribose. In RNA, the nucleobase uracil is chemically bonded to ribose.
Discovered Phoebus Levene discovered deoxyribose in 1929. Emil Fisher discovered ribose in 1891.

What is Sugar in DNA?

DNA is composed of three components: sugar, phosphate, and bases. These are linked together to create a very long chain with the shape of a double helix. It contains adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine as bases. And the pairings are adenine and thymine, followed by cytosine and guanine. It contains adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine as bases. And the pairings are adenine and thymine, followed by cytosine and guanine. An organism's DNA contains all genetic information. It also contains two strands that are organised in a helix pattern. It is much longer than RNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid is abbreviated as DNA. DNA is the most common genetic substance in the living world. The fact that the two strands of DNA are wrapped as a right-handed double helix characterises the molecule. The genetic functions of DNA can thus be understood as a synergy of two properties: a tape containing the information store encoding the sequences of proteins and RNA molecules, and a polymer existing as a double-helical string allowing the information store to be packaged, accessible, and replicated.

Deoxyribose is the sugar found in DNA. Deoxyribose contains one less hydroxyl group than ribose in RNA. The sugar-phosphate backbone is an essential component of the double helix structure of DNA. The function of DNA is linked to its structure. The pairing of nitrogenous bases attached to the sugar-phosphate backbone is critical to DNA's capacity to store and convey genetic information. This backbone is made up of alternating phosphate and sugar groups, with one nucleotide's sugar molecule connecting to the phosphate group of the next nucleotide. Sugar is found in both DNA and RNA. It has recurring nucleotide units. It also contains nucleic acid, phosphate, and sugar. Aside from transporting the four bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and adenine), sugar serves as an anchor for the phosphate (derived from the phosphodiester bonds of the triphosphate precursors), which lies on the exterior of the finished polymer. The phosphate moiety renders the ultimate product, DNA, acidic. The negative charge on the sugar-phosphate backbone helps DNA to dissolve readily in water and is also utilised by proteins that bind the DNA. Positive regions in these proteins often attach firmly to the negative charge of the phosphate groups. Deoxyribose, DNA's sugar, is made up of five carbon atoms that are linked together to create a ring. The five-sided ring is made up of four carbons and one oxygen. The fifth carbon deviates from the ring.

These transitions entail both aberrations from the standard double helix and topological modifications of the double helix's route, allowing for both packing and control. When these features are combined, DNA can operate as an extremely efficient and adaptable coding device.

What is Sugar in RNA?

RNA is a biological macromolecule that performs a variety of activities. RNA is a nucleic acid and an amino acid. The nucleic acid is composed of five carbons, of which two are carbons. The second carbon has a hydroxyl group, while the third contains hydrogen. The sugar present in RNA is RIBOSE, a 5-carbon sugar. DNA also contains a 5-carbon sugar known as deoxyribose. They are both very significant since they are components of nucleotides. RNA contains five sugar molecules, the first of which is ribose. These five molecules encode genetic information. Ribonucleic acid is abbreviated as RNA. It is the substance utilised to transform the genetic information found in DNA. Finally, its format is utilised to construct proteins, which are subsequently transferred to ribosomal protein factories. Ribose is a simple sugar that is classified as a pentose monosaccharide. It's a carbohydrate made up of five carbon atoms.

When the energy for cellular metabolism is needed, ribose, unlike other monosaccharides such as glucose, is not oxidised. Instead, ribose is essential for the creation of molecules that transport energy inside a cell. RNA is a single-stranded molecule found in all living things that serve as genetic material. Because RNA is double-stranded, it may create complicated three-dimensional structures, making it more sensitive to enzymes.

It shares the nucleotides adenine, guanine, and cytosine with DNA. It does, however, include uracil rather than thymine. And the pairings are adenine and uracil, followed by cytosine and guanine. RNA is a single-stranded molecule with a sugar and phosphate backbone and four bases attached: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. Adenine and uracil always pair together, as do cytosine and guanine.

Three forms of RNA participate in protein synthesis: transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA).

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

mRNA converts DNA's genetic information into a form that can be read and utilised to produce proteins. mRNA transports genetic information from a cell's nucleus to its cytoplasm.

rRNA Stands for Ribosomal RNA

rRNA is present in a cell's cytoplasm, where ribosomes are found. The translation of mRNA into proteins is directed by rRNA.

tRNA Stands for Transfer RNA

tRNA, like rRNA, is found in the cytoplasm and is involved in protein synthesis. Transfer RNA transports amino acids to the ribosome that correspond to each three-nucleotide rRNA codon. The amino acids may then be combined and processed to form polypeptides and proteins. RNA, on the other hand, is less stable than DNA. This is due in major part to the existence of ribonucleases (RNases), which degrade RNA molecules. The sugar component is found in both DNA and RNA. It does, however, include distinct forms of sugar with additional hydroxyl group atoms.

How do DNA and RNA Differ?

  1. RNA is a single-stranded molecule, while DNA is double-stranded.
  2. DNA is stable under alkaline environments, but RNA is not.
  3. In humans, DNA and RNA have distinct purposes. DNA is in charge of storing and transmitting genetic information, while RNA directly codes for amino acids and serves as a messenger between DNA and ribosomes to produce proteins.
  4. DNA and RNA base pairing vary somewhat because DNA utilises adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine whereas RNA uses adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine. Uracil differs from thymine in that its ring lacks a methyl group.

Both DNA and RNA have a sugar backbone, however, the sugar in DNA is termed deoxyribose (left in picture), while the sugar in RNA is just ribose (right in image). The 'deoxy' prefix indicates that, although RNA has two hydroxyls (-OH) groups connected to its carbon backbone, DNA only has one, and instead has a single hydrogen atom attached. The additional hydroxyl group in RNA aids in the process of translating genetic material into mRNAs that may be translated into proteins, whereas deoxyribose sugar increases the stability of DNA.

Difference Between Sugar in DNA and RNA In Points

  • DNA is made up of deoxyribose sugar, while RNA is made up of ribose sugar.
  • DNA has fewer hydroxyl atoms than RNA. While RNA has more hydroxyl atoms than DNA.
  • DNA sugar is also known as 2-deoxyribose and di-deoxyribose. Meanwhile, D-ribose is the sugar found in RNA.
  • Deoxyribose was discovered in DNA in 1929, whereas ribose in RNA was discovered in 1891.
  • In DNA, thymine is chemically bonded to deoxyribose. Meanwhile, in RNA, the nucleobase uracil is chemically bonded to ribose.
  • Both sugars and fructose are monosaccharides.

Conclusion

Furthermore, many viruses have RNA as their genome rather than DNA, and RNA species known as ribozymes catalyse biochemical events in the same way as enzymes do. Because RNA can fulfil roles often associated with DNA and proteins, it has been proposed that RNA was the first biological molecule, with DNA and proteins evolving later. RNA is simpler in structure than DNA, yet DNA relies on RNA to operate correctly. This shows that RNA was the origin of the replication machinery on which cells rely. This notion is supported by the discovery of RNA in prokaryotic cells, which are thought to have evolved before eukaryotic cells. DNA is made up of deoxy sugar, which is what gives it its strength. It is a less reactive molecule than ribose, but it is still a reactive molecule. Although DNA and RNA have the same bases, DNA is more stable than RNA. The two molecules form a polynucleotide chain. Both varieties are made up of phosphate and sugar, which combine to create a polynucleotide chain. The nucleotides in RNA are also built up of nucleotides, one of which is ribose sugar. The nucleobase uracil is also chemically linked to ribose in RNA.

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"Difference Between Sugar in the DNA and RNA." Diffzy.com, 2024. Tue. 26 Mar. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-sugar-in-the-dna-and-851>.



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