QQuestionBiochemistry
QuestionBiochemistry
"ATP is NOT a nucleoside because it ________.
A. Has three phosphates instead of just one
B. Lacks the deoxyribosyl group
C. Has phosphate groups
D. Is not connected to a carbohydrate group"
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Answer
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Step 1:Let's solve this step by step:
Step 2:: Understand the definition of a nucleoside
- A nucleoside is a molecule composed of a nucleic base (like adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine) attached to a sugar molecule (ribose or deoxyribose) - Specifically, a nucleoside consists of:
Step 3:
A nitrogenous base
Step 4:
A sugar molecule (ribose or deoxyribose)
Step 5:: Analyze the structure of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
- ATP contains:
Step 6:
Adenine (the base)
Step 7:
Ribose (the sugar)
Step 8:
THREE phosphate groups
Step 9:: Identify the key difference between ATP and a typical nucleoside
- A nucleoside has NO phosphate groups - ATP has THREE phosphate groups attached to the ribose sugar - This means ATP is actually a nucleotide, not a nucleoside
Step 10:: Evaluate the answer choices
- Choice A is correct: ATP has three phosphates instead of the zero phosphates found in a nucleoside
Final Answer
ATP is NOT a nucleoside because it has three phosphates instead of just one. Key Insight: The distinction between nucleosides (base + sugar) and nucleotides (base + sugar + phosphate group(s)) is crucial in biochemistry.
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