Q. 17.17 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

What components join together to form the backbone of a nucleic acid?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The phosphate group on the  $5\text{'}$carbon atom in the sugar of the following nucleotide forms phosphodiester linkage with the $3\text{'}OH$ group of sugar in the previous nucleotide.

Step 1 : Introduction

The objective is to determine what components joined together to form a backbone of the nucleic acid

Step 2 : Explanation

Nucleic acids are organic macromolecules that are present all over the cell. They were first discovered in the nuclei of cells. Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are found in all known forms of life. 

One of the components of nucleotide structure is nitrogen bases. Purines and pyrimidines are nitrogen bases that form various nucleotide structures.

Step 3 : Phosphate and sugar

The backbone structure of nucleic acid is made up of phosphate and sugar. Both DNA and RNA have a sugar-phosphate backbone that serves as a structural foundation. 

The phosphate group on the $5\text{'}$ carbon atom in the sugar of the following nucleotide forms phosphodiester linkage with the $3\text{'} OH$ group of sugar in the previous nucleotide.