According to the type of sugar present, two types of nucleotides can be distinguish: ribose and dioxyribose nucleotide

Nitrogen bases of nucleotide are ring compound containing carbon and nitrogen which are very important in nature. Nucleotides have different names e.g. Adellic acid or Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)

Nucleotides as Energy carriers

Nucleotides can link two additional phosphate groups serially. One phosphate is added to AMP, then ADP is form and if a thirdth phosphate is added to ADP, then ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is formed. Symbolically A-T-T-T was the waving symbol in the added phosphate group indicates the presence of a high energy rich bond that can easily be hydrolyzed. The reaction is usually catalyzed by A.I.Pase to convert AMP to ATP and ATP requires much energy, this energy is generated from respiration, ATP is the most important energy carrier in the cell. When its last phosphate is broken up, a large amount of free energy is release, about 30.6kj/mol

            ATP + H₂O                      ADP + TI + 30.6KJ/MOL

Nucleotides as Co-Enzymes

A co-enzyme is a carrier molecule that functions in conjunction with a particular enzyme. It occurs in metabolic processes in which there is a transfer of atoms or groups of atoms from one enzymes to another, a majority of co-enzymes are chemical derivation of nucleotides e.g. NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).