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Bonding in Polymers and DNA Structure

The document explains the nature of bonds linking monomers in polymers, highlighting peptide bonds in proteins, glycosidic bonds in polysaccharides, and phosphodiester bonds in nucleic acids. It describes the structure of DNA, emphasizing its double helix formation, antiparallel strands, and specific base pairing rules. Additionally, it mentions the unique structural features of different forms of DNA, specifically B-DNA.

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56 views1 page

Bonding in Polymers and DNA Structure

The document explains the nature of bonds linking monomers in polymers, highlighting peptide bonds in proteins, glycosidic bonds in polysaccharides, and phosphodiester bonds in nucleic acids. It describes the structure of DNA, emphasizing its double helix formation, antiparallel strands, and specific base pairing rules. Additionally, it mentions the unique structural features of different forms of DNA, specifically B-DNA.

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rg697770
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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9.

8 NATURE OF BOND LINKING M ONOMERS IN A POLYMER

In a polypeptide or a protein, amino acids are linked by a peptide bond


which is formed when the carboxyl (-COOH) group of one amino acid
reacts with the amino (-NH2) group of the next amino acid with the
elimination of a water moiety (the process is called dehydration). In a
polysaccharide the individual monosaccharides are linked by a glycosidic
bond. This bond is also formed by dehydration. This bond is formed
between two carbon atoms of two adjacent monosaccharides. In a nucleic
acid a phosphate moiety links the 3’-carbon of one sugar of one nucleotide
to the 5’-carbon of the sugar of the succeeding nucleotide. The bond
between the phosphate and hydroxyl group of sugar is an ester bond. As
there is one such ester bond on either side, it is called phosphodiester
bond (Figure 9.5).
Nucleic acids exhibit a wide variety of secondary structures. For
example, one of the secondary structures exhibited by DNA is the famous
Watson-Crick model. This model says that DNA exists as a double helix.
The two strands of polynucleotides are antiparallel i.e., run in the opposite
direction. The backbone is formed by the sugar-phosphate-sugar chain.
The nitrogen bases are projected more or less perpendicular to this
backbone but face inside. A and G of one strand compulsorily base pairs

5' 3' O
OCH2 O
Thymine ....... Adenine O CH2

O O

O P OH HO P O

O O
....... Cytosine
Guanine .......
CH2 O O CH2

O O
5' 3'

Figure 9.5 Diagram indicating secondary structure of DNA

with T and C, respectively, on the other strand. There are two hydrogen
bonds between A and T and three hydrogen bonds between G and C.
Each strand appears like a helical staircase. Each step of ascent is
represented by a pair of bases. At each step of ascent, the strand turns
36°. One full turn of the helical strand would involve ten steps or ten base
pairs. Attempt drawing a line diagram. The pitch would be 34Å. The rise
per base pair would be 3.4Å. This form of DNA with the above mentioned
salient features is called B-DNA. In higher classes, you will be told that
there are more than a dozen forms of DNA named after English alphabets
with unique structural features.

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