the pentose (5-carbon) sugar that helps make up the backbones of DNA
The pentose sugar that helps make up the backbones of DNA is called deoxyribose
The pentose sugar that helps make up the backbones of DNA is called deoxyribose. Deoxyribose is a modified form of ribose, in which the hydroxyl group (-OH) on the 2′ carbon of ribose is replaced by a hydrogen atom (-H).
Deoxyribose is a crucial component of DNA because it links the nucleotide subunits together to form the backbone of the DNA double helix. It does this by forming a phosphodiester bond between the 3′ carbon of one deoxyribose molecule and the 5′ carbon of the next deoxyribose molecule. This bond creates a repeating sugar-phosphate backbone in DNA.
The deoxyribose sugar provides stability to the DNA molecule due to its cyclic structure and the presence of hydrogen bonding sites. The five carbons of deoxyribose are labeled from 1′ to 5′. The phosphate group is attached to the 5′ carbon, while the nitrogen-containing base is attached to the 1′ carbon.
The deoxyribose sugar also plays a significant role in determining the directionality of DNA. The DNA double helix is formed by two antiparallel strands, meaning they run in opposite directions. The 5′ carbon of one strand is always connected to the 3′ carbon of the complementary strand, and this arrangement forms the characteristic double-helix structure.
In summary, deoxyribose, a pentose sugar, is a vital component of DNA as it forms the backbone of the DNA double helix. Its presence allows for the formation of the sugar-phosphate backbone and determines the directionality of the DNA strands.
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