18 Questions
Why would an A:C base pair be unstable?
Due to the lack of space for a water molecule to satisfy the two hydrogen-bond acceptors and donors.
What is base flipping in DNA?
Base flipping is when individual bases protrude from the double helix, allowing enzymes to interact with them.
How do enzymes involved in DNA repair scan DNA for homology or lesions?
Enzymes scan DNA by flipping out one base at a time.
Why is base pairing specificity important in DNA?
Base pairing specificity is important to ensure the complementary pairing of bases, aided by hydrogen bonding.
What is the role of hydrogen bonding in base-pairing specificity?
Hydrogen bonding helps maintain the stability and specificity of base pairing.
Why does DNA exhibit flexibility despite its double helix structure?
DNA can be more flexible due to the ability of individual bases to be flipped out from the helix.
What stabilizes DNA's helix structure through pi-pi interactions?
Base pairing & stacking
How do the hydrophobic surfaces of DNA bases contribute to the stability of the double helix?
Base stacking
What is the role of hydrogen bonding in DNA's base-pairing specificity?
Important
How do water molecules interact in relation to the hydrophobic surfaces of DNA bases?
More favorably with each other than with the bases
What phenomenon is responsible for the attraction between stacked bases in DNA's double helix?
Van der Waals interactions
What would happen if you pair adenine (A) with cytosine (C) in DNA?
Incorrect base pairing
What is the significance of Watson-Crick base pairing in DNA structure?
It ensures that the bases are in their preferred tautomeric states, contributing to the stability and specificity of base pairing.
How does the distance between sugar attachment points contribute to the uniform geometry of base pairs in DNA?
The consistent distance between sugar attachment points allows the base pairs to have exactly the same geometry.
Explain how the irregular order of base pairs in DNA is balanced by an overall regular architecture.
Despite the irregular order of base pairs, the overall architecture of DNA is relatively regular due to the base pairs stacking neatly between the sugar-phosphate backbones.
What forces stabilize the DNA double helix besides hydrogen bonding?
Stacking interactions between the bases provide additional stabilization to the DNA double helix.
How does the displacement of water molecules upon strand association contribute to the stability of the DNA double helix?
Displacing water molecules from the bases upon strand association increases entropy, creating disorder that stabilizes the double helix.
What is the role of complementary base pairing in DNA's self-encoding character?
Complementary base pairing ensures accurate replication and transmission of genetic information, contributing to DNA's self-encoding character.
Explore the challenges of hydrogen bonding between adenine and cytosine in DNA base pairs, leading to instability and the need for water to be stripped off the donor and acceptor groups. Understand the molecular interactions involved in forming and maintaining A:C base pairs.
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