The backbone of nucleic acids consists of

a. a glycosidic bond between a purine and a sugar

b. a phosphodiester bond between the 2' and 5' hydroxyl groups of neighboring sugars

c. a phosphodiester bond between the 3' and 5' hydroxyl groups of neighboring sugars

d. a glycosidic bond between a pyrimidine and a sugar

Question

Chemistry

Camilla Wagner

3 December, 09:34

The backbone of nucleic acids consists of

a. a glycosidic bond between a purine and a sugar

b. a phosphodiester bond between the 2' and 5' hydroxyl groups of neighboring sugars

c. a phosphodiester bond between the 3' and 5' hydroxyl groups of neighboring sugars

d. a glycosidic bond between a pyrimidine and a sugar

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Fattykins · Answer 1

c. a phosphodiester bond between the 3' and 5' hydroxyl groups of neighboring sugars

Explanation:

Phosphodiester bond is the bond which is formed between the hydroxyl group of one nucleotide to the phosphate group of the another nucleotide. These are ester bonds. These bonds are central to all the life which is in existence on Earth. These bonds forms the backbone of the strands of the nucleic acid.

The bond is formed by the linkage of 3' carbon atom of one of the sugar unit to the 5' carbon atom of the another succeeding sugar unit.

Hence, the answer is: - c. a phosphodiester bond between the 3' and 5' hydroxyl groups of neighboring sugars