What is the Difference Between dNTP and rNTP

Nucleoside triphosphate is a biomolecule involved in building nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. dNTP and rNTP are two different types of nucleoside triphosphates. Both are involved in very important processes in the human body.

The key difference between dNTP and rNTP is their structure and function. dNTP is the main building block of DNA, while rNTP is the main building block of RNA. dNTP contains deoxyribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base, whereas rNTP contains ribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is dNTP 
3. What is rNTP
4. Similarities – dNTP and rNTP
5. dNTP vs rNTP in Tabular Form
6. Summary – dNTP vs rNTP
7. FAQ – dNTP and rNTP

What is dNTP?

dNTP (deoxynucleotide triphosphate) is the monomeric unit of DNA. It is formed by reducing ribonucleotides by an enzyme known as ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). dNTP contains a nitrogen base bound to deoxyribose sugar and three phosphate groups attached to its 5’ carbon. There are four different types of dNTPs: dTTP, dCTP, dGTP, and dATP.

To regulate genome integrity, organisms require a balance in dNTP pools. Any imbalance leads to increased mutations, genome instability, and tumorigenesis. In addition to acting as the main building blocks of DNA, dNTPs also helps in cloning, PCR reactions, and cDNA synthesis, especially for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

What is rNTP?

Ribonucleotide triphosphate (rNTP) is the monomeric building block of RNA. rNTP contains a ribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base. In rNTPs, the three phosphate groups are attached through phosphodiester bonds to the 5′ oxygen on the ribose, with a nitrogenous base attached to the 1′ carbon on the ribose.

There are four different types of dNTPs: dUTP, dCTP, dGTP, and dATP. The concentration of rNTP is higher than that of dNTP in cells. Additionally, aside from its role in RNA synthesis, rNTP also has important biological functions, such as serving as primers in DNA replication and acting as stores of chemical energy, especially Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), among others.

Similarities Between dNTP and rNTP

1. dNTP and rNTP are two different types of nucleoside triphosphates.
2. Both are involved in very important processes in the human body.
3. Both contain sugar, three phosphates, and a nitrogenase base.
4. Any imbalance of these nucleoside triphosphates leads to increased mutations, genome instability, and tumorigenesis.

Difference Between dNTP and rNTP

Definition

1. dNTP is the main monomeric building block of DNA.
2. rNTP is the main monomeric building block of RNA.

Composed of

1. dNTP contains a deoxyribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base.
2. rNTP contains a ribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base.

Concentration

1. dNTP concentration is less in the cell.
2. rNTP concentration is higher in the cell.

Function

1. dNTP functions as the main building block of DNA. It is also used in cloning, PCR reactions, and cDNA synthesis, especially for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
2. rNTP functions as the main building block of RNA. It has significant biological uses such as primers in DNA replication, stores of chemical energy, chiefly Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and more.

The following table summarizes the difference between dNTP and rNTP.

Summary – dNTP vs rNTP

dNTP and rNTP are two different types of nucleoside triphosphates. dNTP is the main monomeric building block of DNA, while rNTP is the main monomeric building block of RNA. Furthermore, dNTP contains a deoxyribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base. On the other hand, rNTP contains ribose sugar, three phosphate groups, and a nitrogenase base. This summarizes the difference between dNTP and rNTP.

FAQ: dNTP and rNTP

1. What do dNTPs do in DNA replication?

• In the DNA replication process, the DNA polymerase enzyme uses dNTPs to extend a DNA primer hybridized to a complementary DNA template as the appropriate dNTP is incorporated into the growing strand, and a phosphodiester bond is formed in the DNA strand.

2. What is dNTP mix in PCR?

• In PCR, dNTP mixture contains premixed dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP in water. The pH is normally 7.5 and each dNTP is at a concentration of 10 mM. Impurities in dNTP mix in PCR can result in a decrease in amplification and product yield.

3. Is dNTP a DNA monomer?

• dNTPs are the monomeric building blocks of DNA, and they are also used in cloning, PCR reactions, and cDNA synthesis, especially for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

4. What are rNTPs used for?

• Cellular ribonucleoside triphosphates (rNTPs) serve not only as substrates of RNA polymerases in RNA synthesis but also as key metabolic energy carriers and substrates for numerous cell signalling pathway enzymes. Examples are ATP and GTP.

5. What is the major difference between a dNTP and a ddNTP?

• dNTP is the main monomeric building block of DNA, while ddNTP is a nucleotide used in the Sanger sequencing method, which lacks the 3’OH group in the deoxyribose sugar. ddNTP inhibits the DNA polymerase enzyme. They are special molecules named chain termination nucleotides.

Reference:

1. Stillman, Bruce. “Deoxynucleoside Triphosphate (dNTP) Synthesis and Destruction Regulate the Replication of Both Cell and Virus Genomes.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. Yao, Nina Y, et al. “Cost of Rntp/Dntp Pool Imbalance at the Replication Fork.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Figure 17 03 01” By CNX OpenStax – (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “DUTP chemical structure” By Hbf878 – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia