View source for Primary structure of nucleic acids

Mononucleotides are linked by phosphodiester bonds in '''oligonucleotides''' and '''polynucleotides'''. Phosphate usually binds C5' of one pentose to C3' of the following saccharide, so the axis of the polynucleotide is a chain in which pentose and phosphate alternate. The described phosphodiester bonds are the cause of chain polarity. By convention, '''5'-end''' is written on the left and '''3'-end''' on the right.

[[Structure of Nucleic Acids|Nucleic Acids]] are extraordinarily long molecules, yet methods have been found to solve their '''primary structure''' (order or sequence of nucleotides). The procedures are based on an appropriately chosen cleavage of the polynucleotide.

[[File:Nucleotide structure within a polynucleotide chain.png|thumb|Nucleotide structure within a polynucleotide chain]]
== Links ==
=== Related Articles ===
* [[The structure of nucleic acids]]
* [[Basic components of nucleic acids]]
* [[Nucleic acid hydrolysis]]
* [[Sequencing Methods]]
* [[Secondary structure of DNA]]
* [[Nucleic acid denaturation, molecular hybridization]]
* [[RNA Secondary Structure]]
* [[Topology of DNA]]
* [[Interaction of DNA with proteins]]
* [[Bacterial chromosome]]
* [[Eukaryotic Chromosomes]]
* [[Mitochondrial DNA]]


=== Resources ===
* {{Cite
| type = book
| surname1 = ŠTÍPEK
| name1 = Stanislav
| title = Stručná biochemie
| subtitle = Uchování a exprese genetické informace
| publisher = Medprint
| edition = 1
| year = 1998
| range = 92
| sides = 12
| isbn = 80-902036-2-0
}}

[[Category:Biochemistry]]
[[Category:Molecular Biology]]
[[Category:Genetics]]