Nucleosides
Nucleosides
Nucleosides (/njuːklɪəsaɪdz/), derived from the Greek words "nucleus" and "sides" meaning "nucleus" and "similar to" respectively, are glycosylamines that can be thought of as nucleotides without a phosphate group. A nucleoside consists of a nucleobase (also termed a nitrogenous base) and a five-carbon sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose) either connected via a β-N1-glycosidic bond (in the case of the pyrimidines) or a β-N9-glycosidic bond (in the case of the purines).
Etymology
The term "nucleoside" is a portmanteau of the words "nucleus" and "sides", which in Greek mean "nucleus" and "similar to" respectively. The term was first used in the early 20th century to describe the components of nucleic acids that were not associated with the phosphate group.
Structure
A nucleoside is composed of a nucleobase and a five-carbon sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose). The nucleobase, which can be either a purine or a pyrimidine, is connected to the sugar molecule via a β-N1-glycosidic bond (in the case of the pyrimidines) or a β-N9-glycosidic bond (in the case of the purines).
Related Terms
- Nucleotide: A nucleotide is a nucleoside with one or more phosphate groups attached to the sugar molecule.
- Nucleobase: A nucleobase is a nitrogenous base that is a component of nucleosides and nucleotides.
- Purine: Purine is a type of nucleobase found in nucleosides and nucleotides.
- Pyrimidine: Pyrimidine is another type of nucleobase found in nucleosides and nucleotides.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nucleosides
- Wikipedia's article - Nucleosides
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