Question

Describe the structures of proteins and nucleic acids, and then explain the relationship between these two molecules within a cell.

Answer 1

It really, really helps us help you answer the question if you explain what about it you'd like help with. The structures of proteins and nucleic acids are both enormous fields; the relationships between them also span entire disciplines. Hope that is helpful.

Answer 2

Proteins are large biomolecules that are made up of long chains of building block molecules called amino acids. Each amino acid folds to form a protein with a specific cellular function.

Nucleic acid is basically DNA & RNA. DNA is the genetic information that contains all the information one needs to live. RNA stands for ribonucleic acid and has a variety of roles.

When comparing them, they actually don't look at all similar when looking at the large molecules or the 'building blocks'. But, they're both made up of mostly carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. The elements mentioned are assembled in different ways for both Proteins & Nucleic acid. The major similarity between them is that with the protein production DNA and RNA contains all the information that a cell uses to make protein.

Answer 3

Their overall interactions can be summed up by the central dogma of molecular biology:

DNA --transcription--> RNA --translation--> Proteins

There are many more intricacies involved (such as RNA editing, and the role that proteins play in transcriptional regulation) but this is the basic idea.