Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids Each nu

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar (ribose in the case of RNA, deoxyribose in the case of DNA), and a nitrogen base. What five nitrogen bases are commonly found in nucleic acids? Using your lecture text as a reference, construct a model of a simple nitrogen base found in DNA (recall that single-ringed pyrimidines are simpler than double-ringed purines). If you find that you don\'t have enough nitrogen atoms, substitute balls of another color. Which other colored ball in your kit represents an atom with an electron configuration similar to nitrogen? (Consult the chart on the representation of the atoms at the beginning of this exercise.) Use these balls to represent any extra nitrogen atoms you may require. Now, once again, using your textbook as a reference, construct a model of a complete nucleotide. Polynucleotide strands Nucleotides may bind to one another to from polynucleotide strands. What two parts of a nucleotide are involved in these covalent bonds that form between adjacent nucleotides in a polynucleotide strand? What is the name of this type of covalent bond? _

Solution

2. Phosphodiester bond is formed between two nuleotides in a polynucleotide chain. It forms between 3\' carbon atom in the hydroxyl group and the 5\' carbon atom of the other nucleotide.

Name of the covalent bond is phosphodiester bond