Learn the key differences between nucleotide and nucleoside, two building blocks of nucleic acid. Nucleotide has a phosphate group, sugar and a base, while nucleoside has only sugar and a base. A nucleoside is a structural subunit of nucleic acids, the heredity-controlling components of all living cells, that consists of a sugar molecule linked to a nitrogen-containing organic ring compound. Explore the structure, metabolism, functions, and analytical techniques for nucleosides in this comprehensive article. Learn about the differences between nucleosides and nucleotides, their roles in cellular processes, and the advanced mass spectrometry-based methods used for nucleoside analysis. Nucleosides are glycosylamines composed of a nucleobase and a five-carbon sugar, while nucleotides have a phosphate group. Learn about the structure, synthesis, and use of nucleosides in medicine, technology, and prebiotic chemistry.
