Nucelotide and DNA Structure

DNA Strucutre

Nucleotides stranded together to form a double helix structure. The phosphate groups form covalent bonds with the deoxyribose of the adjacent nucleotide. The 5’ carbon attaches to the 3’ carbon. The sugars and phosphate create the “backbone”

What makes up nucleotides?

A phosphate group, a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose) and one of the 4 nitrogenous bases.

Base pairing

A binds with T using 2 hydrogen bonds. C binds with G using 3 hydrogen bonds. It is easier to separate A and T

Purines

Have double ring structure (G and A)

Pyrimidines

Have a single ring structure (C, T, and U)

Anti parallel

The two DNA strands are parallel, but one runs 5’ to 3’ and the other runs 3’ to 5’