Question

How are nucleic acids broken down?

Answer 1

In 1869, nucleic acids, which are moderately effective acids found in cell nuclei, were first isolated. Polymers with molecular weights as high as 100,000,000 grammes per mole are nucleic acids.

Complete answer:
-With the aid of both pancreatic enzymes and enzymes formed by the small intestine itself, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in foods are digested in the small intestine. Ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease are called pancreatic enzymes that break down RNA and DNA into smaller nucleic acids, respectively. This in fact, are further broken down by small intestine enzymes called nucleases into nitrogen bases and sugars.
-Exonucleases present in our pancreatic juice include deoxyribonuclease (DNase) and ribonuclease (RNase). By chopping away nucleotides from one end, these enzymes break down nucleic acid molecules found in our diet.
-On the other hand, endonucleases trim a molecule of nucleic acid to create smaller fragments. Both endonucleases are restriction enzymes: but only at palindromic sequences do these enzymes sever DNA. Just one such special sequence still identifies distinct restriction enzymes.

Additional information:
-Nucleic acids are polynucleotides, that is, consisting of a sequence of almost identical building blocks called nucleotides, long chain-like molecules. Each nucleotide consists of an aromatic base containing nitrogen attached to a pentose (five-carbon) sugar, which in turn is attached to a group of phosphates. -Four out of five potential nitrogen-containing bases are present in each nucleic acid: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).
-A and G are known as purines, and pyrimidines are collectively called C, T, and U. The bases A, C, and G are present in all nucleic acids; T, however is found in DNA only while U is found in RNA. In the absence of a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the 2' carbon of the sugar ring, the pentose sugar in DNA (2'-deoxyribose) differs from the sugar in RNA (ribose).
-The sugar attached to one of the bases is known as a nucleoside, without an attached phosphate group. By bridging the 5′-hydroxyl group on one sugar to the 3′-hydroxyl group on the next sugar in the chain, the phosphate group binds successive sugar residues. These nucleotide linkages in RNA and DNA are called phosphodiester bonds and are the same.

Note: Nucleic acid is a natural chemical compound that can be broken down to create phosphoric acid, sugars and a combination of organic bases (purines and pyrimidines). Nucleic acids are the cell's key molecules carrying information, and they decide the inherited characteristics of a living thing by guiding the process of protein synthesis.