Question

In a nucleotide, the nitrogenous base is attached to the sugar's _____ carbon and the phosphate group is attached to the sugar's _____ carbon.A. 1' ... 5'B. 2' ... 3'C. 2' ... 1'D. 1' ... 2'E. 1' ... 3'

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1' ... 5'

Explanation:

The pentose sugars present in nucleotides have five-carbon structures. Other components of a nucleotide are a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base. The nitrogenous base in a nucleotide can be a purine or pyrimidine. The purine bases are covalently joined to the 1' carbon atom of the pentose sugar at their N-9. The bond between the nitrogenous base and a pentose sugar is called the N-beta glycosyl bond.

Similarly, N-1 of a pyrimidine base is covalently linked to the 1' carbon of the pentose sugar. The phosphate group of a nucleotide is bonded to the 5' carbon of the pentose sugar.