DNA/RNA Sequence Conversion Tool
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- What is a nucleotide?
- Nucleic acids are biological macromolecules that store and transmit genetic information. Naturally occurring nucleic acids are classified into two major categories: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids are hydrolyzed by enzymatic action into nucleotides. Therefore, the fundamental structural unit of nucleic acids is the nucleotide (NT), which is composed of three covalently linked components: a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. The basic units of DNA are deoxyribonucleotides, whereas those of RNA are ribonucleotides. In vivo, beyond serving as the monomeric building blocks of nucleic acid polymers, nucleotides also exist in free form or as derivatives to participate in the regulation of diverse metabolic pathways and the modulation of protein functions. Free nucleotides function as principal high-energy compounds in energy metabolism and serve as critical signaling messengers in cellular signal transduction. A nucleotide is formed by the sequential covalent linkage of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.
- What is transcription?
- Transcription is the biological process by which genetic information flows from DNA to RNA. Specifically, one defined strand of double-stranded DNA serves as the template, and the four ribonucleoside triphosphates—ATP, UTP, CTP, and GTP—serve as substrates for the synthesis of RNA, catalyzed by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
- What is reverse transcription?
- Reverse transcription is the process of synthesizing DNA from an RNA template; the resulting DNA is referred to as complementary DNA (cDNA). The direction of genetic information flow in reverse transcription (RNA → DNA) is opposite to that of transcription (DNA → RNA), hence the designation "reverse" transcription.