Location of DNA in Eukaryotic Cells
DNA in eukaryotic cells is primarily located in the nucleus, however apart from the nucleus, we can find DNA in the mitochondria, chloroplasts, or in extrachromosomal circles.
These locations are crucial for the cell's genetic functions and energy production.
What Is DNA?
DNA, or in its full name, deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule carrying all the genetic information necessary for the growth, development, and reproduction of all known living organisms and also many viruses.
It is a bipolymer of nucleotides, meaning that it is composed of pairs of nucleotides, and these are also the building blocks of DNA [1, 2]. Each nucleotide contains three components: a sugar component, a phosphate component, and a nitrogen base. The sugar component is called 2-deoxyribose and to this, there is a nitrogen base attached. There are four different types of nitrogen bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) [1, 2]. This bipolymer of nucleotides forms a double-stranded helix which is held together by complementary base pairing. So adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine. This structure allows the genetic information to be copied and passed on to the next generation [3].
Not only is DNA a carrier of genetic information, but it is also a great material for programmable nanoscale assembly. This is mostly due to its high biochemical stability and the capacity for large information storage with high recognition specificity [4]. Hence it has been used in the development of vaccines. A DNA vaccine uses a mammalian expression vector to express one or more protein antigens and is administered in vivo to induce an adaptive immune response [5, 6].
What Is An Eukaryotic Cell?
A eukaryotic cell is a cell type characterized by the presence of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotic cells are fundamentally more complex than prokaryotic cells, contributing to most aspects of life on Earth [7]. They have a complex evolutionary history, with the eukaryotic cell arising from prokaryotes just once in four billion years [8].
The name originates from Greek and refers to the nucleus which is the defining feature of eukaryotic cells [9]. Both animal and plant cells are eukaryotic.
Eukaryotic cells for complex tissues. They are composed of metabolically integrated systems, they have a nucleus, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticula, and Golgi apparatus [10]. Each of these organelles plays a salient role in the cell’s function.
The nucleus, which is the most prominent feature of the eukaryotic cell is a membrane-bound organelle. It stores the cell’s genetic material [11]. It allows for protein synthesis and the compartmentalization of genome replication, repair, and expression is a key feature of eukaryotic cells [12].
Where Is DNA Found In Eukaryotic Cells?
In eukaryotic cells, DNA is located in the eukaryotic-unique organelle, the nucleus. In the nucleus, the DNA is organized into chromosomes, which are strands of DNA [12, 13]. These are further organized into a structure called chromatin which is a structure consisting of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones [14, 15].
However, DNA in eukaryotic cells is also found in mitochondria. Mitochondria are another membrane-bound organelle within the cell [16, 17]. Further, it can also be present in extrachromosomal circles or chloroplasts of plant eukaryotic cells, which include mitochondrial DNA or plasmids in yeast [18].
In summary, DNA in eukaryotic cells is primarily found in the nucleus and mitochondria, with some also present in extrachromosomal circles.