Phosphodiester

Phosphodiester is a type of chemical bond that is found in many organic molecules, including DNA and RNA. It is formed when two hydroxyl groups in phosphate react with two hydrogen atoms in another molecule, resulting in the release of two molecules of water.

Formation

The formation of a phosphodiester bond involves the reaction of a phosphate group with two alcohol groups. This reaction is a type of condensation reaction, which means that it involves the release of a small molecule as a byproduct - in this case, water. The reaction can be catalyzed by a variety of enzymes, including DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase.

Role in DNA and RNA

In DNA and RNA, phosphodiester bonds form the backbone of the molecule, linking together the individual nucleotides. The phosphate group in the bond is attached to the 5' carbon of one sugar molecule and the 3' carbon of the next sugar molecule in the chain. This creates a repeating pattern of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate, which forms the structural framework of the DNA or RNA molecule.

Hydrolysis

Phosphodiester bonds can be broken by hydrolysis, which is the addition of a water molecule. This reaction is catalyzed by enzymes known as nucleases. In the cell, the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds is an important mechanism for the degradation of DNA and RNA molecules.

See also

• Nucleic acid sequence
• Nucleic acid structure
• Oligonucleotide

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