Chapter 10: Organic Macromolecules in Cellular Structures, Metabolism, and as Drugs: From Nucleotides to Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) are composed of monomeric units, nucleotides, which in turn are composed of nucleosides (nucleic acid bases and sugars) and a phosphate group. The basic chemistry of RNA and DNA, including the primary, secondary, and tertiary structures, their basic functions, primarily in protein synthesis, and functional divisions of RNAs are discussed. The class of drugs acting on nucleic acids includes DNA intercalating agents, topoisomerase inhibiters, alkylating agents, methylating agents, and chain cutters and terminators, while drugs acting on RNA include antisense RNA therapy, small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy, RNA aptamers, mRNAs, etc. Other related topics discussed include nucleoside analogues as drugs and nucleotide-incorporating biomolecules other than nucleic acids.