Question

Cordycepin, or 3-deoxyadenosine, is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, differing from the latter by the absence of oxygen in the 3' position of its ribose part.

It was initially extracted from fungi of genus Cordyceps. Cordycepin inhibits poly(A) synthesis at low concentrations and RNA synthesis at higher concentrations.

a. Please draw the structure of cordycepin.

b. What is the basis of inhibition by cordycepin?

c. Why poly(A) synthesis is more sensitive to cordycepin?

d. Does codycepin need to be modified to exert its effect? Explain

Answer 1

a.

The Molecular formula for Cordycepin is :
`C_1_0H_1_3N_50_3`

Check the attached file below for the structure.

b.

The basis of inhibition by Cordycepin is due to the fact that Cordycepin lacks a 3'- OH group.

c.

Poly(A) is a long strectch of adenosine nucleotides, this makes Poly (A) synthesis to more sensitive to cordycepin because the likelihood that a molecule of Cordycepin would become subsumed is higher than with most RNA.

d.

YES.

Step-by-step explanation:

a.

The molecular formula gives an insight about how an organic compound structure looks like.

The Molecular formula for Cordycepin is :
`C_1_0H_1_3N_50_3` . I will attach a document with this answer which clearly depicts the structure of what Cordycepin looks like.

b.

The basis of inhibition by Cordycepin is due to the fact that Cordycepin lacks a 3'- OH group, it makes Cordycepin not to be able to partake in the 3'-5' BOND FORMATION.

c.

Poly(A) is a long strectch of adenosine nucleotides, this makes Poly (A) synthesis to more sensitive to Cordycepin because the likelihood that a molecule of Cordycepin would become subsumed is higher than with most RNA.

d.

YES.

CORDYCEPIN needs to be modified to exert its effect in order to be converted into CORDYCEPIN 5'-triphosphate.