Which components are found in a nucleotide?

A nucleotide is a basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. Each nucleotide consists of three key components: a phosphate group, a sugar molecule (which can be ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA), and a nitrogenous base (which can be adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine in DNA; and adenine, uracil, cytosine, or guanine in RNA). This specific combination of components is essential for the structure and function of nucleic acids, allowing them to store and transmit genetic information.

In contrast, the other choices include components that do not accurately represent the structure of a nucleotide. Amino acids and enzymes play roles in proteins and biological reactions but do not form nucleotides. Fatty acids and glycerol are components of lipids, which are entirely different from nucleotides. Similarly, while sugars are part of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino acids, they do not align with the structure of a nucleotide.