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]] |
=== References === | === References === | ||
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