NUCLEIC ACIDS > role in membranes ?! WHAT!?

[Black Cat.1]

hey guys... my teacher has given us a heap of qs to do as an assignment over the holidays. one of the questions was 'Identify examples of nucleic acids and describe their general role in MEMBRANES'?? WOT? i think she may have made a mistake when writing out the qs, but i dont really noe how to answer this question. it is really important that i answer this right, cause this assignment counts towards our ranking (although it is not a sac)... should i talk about how lipid and protein synthesis is directly/indirecly related to nucleic acids, thus the formation of membranes can occur??? WHYYYYYYY!!!

[Bhootnike]

maybe its asking about DNA and synthesis of proteins?
but membrane in unit3 biol usually relates to the plasma membrane right, so... im not sure exactly what a nucleic acid does, in the scope of VCE!
 perhaps.. how dna may be responsbile for synthesis of plasma membrane proteins... , thus enabling transport,etc etc

[chiral]

 nucleic acids code for proteins, some nucleic acids would code for membrane proteins.
Therefore maybe you could say something like nucleic acids provide the code for making the transmembrane proteins which then function in the plasma membrane for transport of specific substances across the membrane...

I can't really think of anything else

[lexitu]

You should email your teacher and ask them to clarify the question.

This could even be referring to ATP... It is an odd way to phrase a question... Both Bhootnike and chiral have answered the question as best as possible though

[chiral]

You should email your teacher and ask them to clarify the question.

This could even be referring to ATP... It is an odd way to phrase a question... Both Bhootnike and chiral have answered the question as best as possible though

ATP! that's it i was trying so hard to remember what else nucleic acid is a part of but it just wasn't clicking!

[scar]

Maybe it has something to do with DNA not being able to cross the nuclear membrane and RNA being able to leave the nucleus???

[MagicGecko]

Two types of nucleic acids:
DNA- provides the blueprints on how to make a protein, it is also the information molecule of the membrane.
RNA- transmits genetic information from DNA to the protein synthesizers in the membrane.
-----------------------
ATP- is a nucleotide closely related to DNA and RNA becuase it has adnosine (adenosine tri-phosphate=ATP). ATP is the
        main energy transfer molecule in membranes and in our entire body.

thats pretty the best answer i can give you.