MHT CET202410 May 2024Morning ShiftChemistryBiomoleculesActual
Which from following statements is NOT true for nucleic acids?
Options
- A5' end of polynucleotide has free phosphate group.
- BNucleic acids contain back bone formed of - C - O - C - linkage.
- CPolynucleotide has free -OH group at 3^ end.
- DNeighbouring nucleotides are bonded through phosphate diester linkage.
Correct answer
B. Nucleic acids contain back bone formed of - C - O - C - linkage.
Step-by-step solution
Option B is NOT true for nucleic acids. In nucleic acids, the backbone is formed by a sugar-phosphate linkage rather than a (- C - O - C - ) linkage. The backbone is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, connected by phosphodiester bonds. Each phosphate group links the (3^ ) carbon atom of one sugar molecule to the (5^ ) carbon atom of the next sugar molecule, which forms the characteristic sugar-phosphate-sugar chain of DNA and RNA.