1.Why there is a "Acid suffix" in RiboseNucleicAcid or DeoxyRiboseNucleicAcid.
2.Is it because of prescence of phosphoric acid ?.
Hi there,
Your proposition #2 answers the question #1. Indeed the presence of phosphate is responsible for the acidic character of the polymer. The pKa of the double substituted phosphate in the phosphodiester bond is between 1 and 2 (which is why DNA and RNA are highly negatively charged at physiological pH).
Hi there,
Your proposition #2 answers the question #1. Indeed the presence of phosphate is responsible for the acidic character of the polymer. The pKa of the double substituted phosphate in the phosphodiester bond is between 1 and 2 (which is why DNA and RNA are highly negatively charged at physiological pH).
Yup, Acidic characters return to the presence of phosphates groups in DNA or RNA molecules
Chemically speaking, nucleic acids are polymeric esters of modified sugars (ribose+purine/pyrimidine base) and phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid has three acidic oxygens, two of which are esterified, while the other retains its acidic characteristics.
for a biologist, an acidic molecule like DNA is an anion, negatively charged at neutral pH, the usual cellular pH ; an acid has liberated its protons at neutral pH, inversely a basic (alcaline) molecule has captured protons
Yes, it is because of free phosphate group both RNA and DNA are acid.
the acidity of DNA is caused by the presence of the phosphate groups which are themselves acidic. You can see this by comparing the structure of DNA to that of Phosphoric acid.
If you compare the structures of phosphoric acid and a short strand of DNA , you’ll see that in the latter, two protons of phosphoric acid are replaced by carbon atoms either in, or attached to, the five-membered ring. In chemical terms, such a group is called a phosphate diester. The remaining proton is now quite acidic, and is relatively easily lost, thereby giving DNA its acidic character. Indeed, under neutral conditions, DNA is deprotonated at this site, and the oxygen atom bears a negative charge. Despite the fact that DNA does contain many basic groups, their basic properties are masked somewhat because of the fact that they hydrogen bond with each other to form base pairs. Hence it’s the acidic part of the molecule that dominates, and that is why we know DNA as an acid.
Hi there
All the above answers are true but from different views as chemical, biological, biochemical. Simply because of negative charge of DNA at neutral pH (7) due to phosphoric acid in its structure.
thanks to all
Looked at the question late. The question is already well answered. Thanks.
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