nucleotide, organic substance that serves as a monomer in forming
nucleic acids. Nucleotides consist of either a
purine or a
pyrimidine base, a
ribose or deoxyribose, and a phosphate group.
Adenosine triphosphate serves as the principle energy carrier for the cell's reactions. The most important nucleotides are those derived from the bases
adenine,
guanine,
cytosine,
thymine, and
uracil.
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