18 Questions
What is formed when a phosphoric acid molecule (H3PO4) is linked with two hydroxyl groups (–OH) of two other molecules?
Two ester bonds
What is the critical role played by phosphodiester linkages in nucleic acids?
Linking nucleotides together
What is the primary reason for the negative charge of phosphate groups in nucleotides at pH 7?
They are completely ionized due to their pKa near 0
What is the characteristic of the backbones of both DNA and RNA?
Hydrophilic
In a nucleic acid sequence, what is the correct direction of reading?
5′ to 3′
What is the term used to describe a short nucleic acid?
Oligonucleotide
What is the result of each ester bond formation in the creation of phosphodiester linkages?
Removal of a water molecule
What is the difference between the C5 atom of thymine and uracil?
Thymine has a methyl group, while uracil does not
What is the molecular formula of phosphoric acid?
H3PO4
What is the type of bond formed between the phosphate group and the sugar of a nucleotide?
Ester bond
What is the negatively charged group in nucleotides that attracts proteins?
Phosphate group
What is the primary difference between the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules?
DNA has a deoxyribose sugar, while RNA has a ribose sugar
What is the significance of the 5′ and 3′ ends of a polynucleotide chain?
They may be free or have an attached phosphoryl group
Why do nucleic acids in cells often associate with proteins?
Because of the negative charge of the phosphate groups
What symbol is used to represent the phosphate group in nucleic acid sequences?
P
What type of ring structure does purine contain?
A six-membered pyrimidine ring fused to a five-membered imidazole ring
Which of the following nucleotides is found in DNA but not in RNA?
Thymidylate
What is the type of pentose found in the backbone of RNA molecules?
Ribose
Learn about the formation of phosphodiester linkages in nucleotides, including the attachment of phosphate residues to sugar molecules and the creation of ester bonds. This quiz covers the structure and bonding of nucleotides, essential for understanding DNA and RNA molecules.
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