Name a macromolecule of living systems other than protein which contains nitrogen.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Nucleic acid
Explanation:
Nucleic acids are essential macromolecules in living systems that contain nitrogen. The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). These molecules are responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information and for controlling the synthesis of proteins in all living organisms.
The basic building blocks of nucleic acids are nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar (either ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA), and a nitrogen-containing base. The nitrogenous bases are the key components that contain nitrogen atoms in their ring structures. There are five major nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U). Thymine is found only in DNA, while uracil replaces thymine in RNA.
These nitrogenous bases are classified into two groups based on their structure. Purines, which include adenine and guanine, have a double-ring structure containing nitrogen atoms. Pyrimidines, which include cytosine, thymine, and uracil, have a single-ring structure, also containing nitrogen. The presence of nitrogen is crucial for the chemical properties and base-pairing rules that govern the structure of DNA and RNA.
Nucleic acids play critical roles in various cellular processes. DNA stores genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of living organisms, while RNA translates those instructions into proteins. RNA also plays structural and enzymatic roles in ribosomes and other cellular processes. The nitrogen atoms within nucleic acids are essential for maintaining the structural integrity and biological function of these macromolecules. Therefore, nucleic acids are an important class of nitrogen-containing macromolecules in living systems.