Uracil
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| − | Uracil (U) is a [[Pyrimidine|pyrimidine]] base. It is one of the four bases found in [[RNA|RNA]] where it replaces [[Thymine|Thymine]] (T) which is found in [[DNA|DNA]]. The structure of uracil differs from thymine in that thymine contains an extra methyl group on the 5-C carbon atom whereas uracil just has a hydrogen atom. However, the base-pairing is unaffected by the lack of this methyl group, therefore the U-A base pairs are very similar to T-A base pairs | + | Uracil (U) is a [[Pyrimidine|pyrimidine]] base. It is one of the four bases found in [[RNA|RNA]] where it replaces [[Thymine|Thymine]] (T) which is found in [[DNA|DNA]]. The structure of uracil differs from thymine in that thymine contains an extra methyl group on the 5-C carbon atom whereas uracil just has a hydrogen atom. However, the base-pairing is unaffected by the lack of this methyl group, therefore the U-A base pairs are very similar to T-A base pairs.<ref>Alberts, B et al. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. US: Garland Science. page 303</ref> E.g. there are 2 hydrogen bonds formed between the bases. <ref>Berg, J.M. Tymoczko, J.L. Stryer, L. (2007). Biochemistry. 6th ed. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. p109.</ref>.[[Image:0192801015 uracil 1.jpg|thumb]] |
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Revision as of 00:16, 21 November 2012
Uracil (U) is a pyrimidine base. It is one of the four bases found in RNA where it replaces Thymine (T) which is found in DNA. The structure of uracil differs from thymine in that thymine contains an extra methyl group on the 5-C carbon atom whereas uracil just has a hydrogen atom. However, the base-pairing is unaffected by the lack of this methyl group, therefore the U-A base pairs are very similar to T-A base pairs.[1] E.g. there are 2 hydrogen bonds formed between the bases. [2].
