Loading...

Initial language selection is based on your web browser preferences.

Info

Error

Phosphodiester Bond in Nucleic Acid Molecule

by STEAM3D

Description

Nucleotides combine to form a phosphodiester bond. This bond forms between the phosphate group attached to the 5th carbon of the pentose sugar in one nucleotide and the hydroxyl group on the 3rd carbon of the pentose sugar in the second nucleotide. Both DNA and RNA are composed of long chains of nucleotides joined in this manner. One end of the DNA or RNA strand terminates with a free hydroxyl group (-OH) at the 3' end. The other end terminates with a free phosphate group, derived from phosphoric acid residue, at the 5' end. Nucleic acids have an overall negative charge on their surface.