Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

Definition

The sugar-phosphate backbone forms the structural framework of nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA. It consists of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, to which nitrogenous bases are attached.

Related terms

Deoxyribose: The sugar component in the backbone of DNA, which is connected to a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base.

Phosphate Group:

A molecule in the DNA backbone that links two sugars together.

Nitrogenous Base: One of the three components of nucleotides, they are attached to the sugar within the backbone and are responsible for base pairing.