Document Detail


Why ribose was selected as the sugar component of nucleic acids.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16569198     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
During evolution ribose was selected as the exclusive sugar component of nucleic acids. The selection is explained by using molecular models and by eliminating most of the other common sugars by looking at their chemical structure and envisioning how they would fit in a nucleic acid model. Comparisons of sugar pucker conformations and configurations of pentoses indicate that ribose was not randomly selected but the only choice, since beta-D-ribose fits best into the structure of physiological forms of nucleic acids. In other nucleotides containing arabinose, xylose, or lyxose, the C(2)'-OH and/or the C(3)'-OH are above the furanose ring, causing steric interference with the bulky base and the C(5)'-OH group.
Authors:
Gaspar Banfalvi
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  DNA and cell biology     Volume:  25     ISSN:  1044-5498     ISO Abbreviation:  DNA Cell Biol.     Publication Date:  2006 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-03-29     Completed Date:  2006-04-21     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9004522     Medline TA:  DNA Cell Biol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  189-96     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. bgaspar@delfin.unideb.hu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Carbohydrate Conformation*
Evolution, Chemical*
Models, Molecular
Molecular Conformation
Molecular Structure
Nucleic Acid Conformation*
Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
Ribose / chemistry*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Nucleic Acids; 50-69-1/Ribose

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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