QQuestionBiochemistry
QuestionBiochemistry
Which molecules make up the sides of the DNA ladder?
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Answer
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Step 1:: Identify the components of the DNA ladder
The sides of the DNA ladder are made up of two types of molecules: deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups. These molecules form the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA molecule.
Step 2:: Describe the structure of the sugar-phosphate backbone
The sugar-phosphate backbone consists of alternating deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups. The deoxyribose sugar has five carbon atoms, denoted as 1' (one prime), 2', 3', 4', and 5'. The phosphate group connects the 5' carbon of one deoxyribose sugar to the 3' carbon of the next deoxyribose sugar, creating a sugar-phosphate-sugar sequence.
Step 3:: Illustrate the sugar-phosphate backbone with a simple diagram
A simplified representation of the sugar-phosphate backbone can be written as: 5'-deoxyribose-phosphate- 3'-deoxyribose-phosphate- 5'-deoxyribose-phosphate- 3'-deoxyribose- ... where the prime (') symbol indicates the asymmetry of the deoxyribose sugar molecule.
Step 4:: Explain the connection between the sugar-phosphate backbone and the DNA bases
The sugar-phosphate backbone forms the sides of the DNA ladder, while the bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) form the rungs of the ladder. The bases are attached to the 1' carbon of the deoxyribose sugars via N-glycosidic bonds.
Final Answer
The sides of the DNA ladder are made up of deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups that form the sugar-phosphate backbone. The sugar-phosphate backbone consists of alternating deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups, with the phosphate group connecting the 5' carbon of one deoxyribose sugar to the 3' carbon of the next deoxyribose sugar. The bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) are attached to the 1' carbon of the deoxyribose sugars, forming the rungs of the DNA ladder.
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