Phosphodiester
Phosphodiester
Phosphodiester (/ˌfɒsfəˈdaɪɛstər/; from the Greek phospho, meaning "light-bringer" and diester, a compound formed from two ester groups) is a group of organic compounds that includes many important biomolecules.
Definition
A phosphodiester is a type of ester formed when two hydroxyl (OH) groups in the same molecule, usually of a nucleic acid, are connected by a phosphoric acid molecule in a dehydration reaction to form two ester bonds.
Role in Biology
Phosphodiesters form the backbone of the strands of nucleic acid. In DNA and RNA, the phosphodiester bond is the linkage between the 3' carbon atom of one sugar molecule and the 5' carbon of another, deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA. Stable phosphodiester bonds are vital for the existence of life as they allow the long strands of nucleic acids to resist degradation over time.
Related Terms
- Nucleotide: The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sugar and phosphate group form part of the phosphodiester bond.
- Phosphodiester bond: A chemical bond of the kind joining successive sugar molecules in a polynucleotide.
- Phosphodiesterase: An enzyme that breaks a phosphodiester bond in an oligonucleotide, changing it into a nucleotide.
Etymology
The term "phosphodiester" comes from the Greek phospho, meaning "light-bringer", and diester, a compound formed from two ester groups. The term reflects the fact that phosphodiesters are key components in the transmission of genetic information, which is often metaphorically referred to as the "light" of life.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Phosphodiester
- Wikipedia's article - Phosphodiester
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