How are nucleotides used for the body?

Answer 1

First and foremost, nucleotides are used in the human body as monomers for building nucleic acids. The nucleic acids they build are RNA and DNA which are extremely vital for the body. However, there are also nucleotides that are used in the body for functions other than the creation of nucleic acids. Nucleotides such as acetyl coenzyme A, NAD, and FAD all have a hand in the production of ATP (which is also a nucleotide) which is the energy currency of cells. When a human ingests glucose via the eating of a sandwich, per se, most of the glucose is used in cellular respiration to produce ATP. Part of the cellular respiration process is glycolysis, which handles the glucose. In glycolysis, glucose is broken down into 2 pyruvates and ATP and NADH, and the pyruvates, ethanol and lactic acid, enter the mitochondrial matrix of the mitochondria in the cell for further processing. They are broken down into 2 NADH's and 2 Acetyl Coenzyme A's. The Acetyl Coenzyme A's then go through the Kreb's Cycle to produce 6 NADH, 2 ATP, and 2 FADH2. The generated NADH goes through electron transport, and the generated FADH2 goes through ATP synthesis and together, along with the ATP generated along the way, they form the 38 molecules of ATP used by the cell gained from the glycolysis cycle. The ATP is then used as energy to carry out cell work, such as muscle contractions, ventilation, and other bodily actions. Also, in the ATP formation process FADH2 (which is simply FAD after it has picked up 2 electrons and 2 protons from inside the mitochondrial matrix) acts to carry the load from the Krebs cycle to the electron transport system in nearby mitochondrial inner membranes. So FADH2 doesn't only contribute to the ATP production, but it serves as a carrying molecule as well. Another nucleotide that helps the human body in a way other than creating nucleic acids is cyclic adenosine monophosphate, or cAMP. cAMP is a second messenger molecule, used for intracellular signal transduction, such as transferring the effects of hormones like glucagon and adrenaline, which cannot pass through the cell membrane. It is also involved in the activation of protein kinases and regulates the effects of adrenaline and glucagons on the body. Thus, the nucleotides acetyl coenzyme A, NAD, FAD, and cAMP are all used in cells in the human body in ways other than building nucleic acids.

Answer 2

ourbody uses nucleic acids by determing the genes