5′ End

Definition

The 5′ end of a nucleic acid strand is the terminus that has a phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon atom of the ribose or deoxyribose sugar. In DNA and RNA, this end serves as the starting point for nucleotide addition during synthesis.

Related terms

Phosphate Group:

A chemical group consisting of phosphorus bonded to four oxygen atoms, crucial for linking nucleotides in DNA and RNA.

Nucleotide:

The basic building block of nucleic acids, comprising a nitrogenous base, a sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and one to three phosphate groups.

DNA Polymerase:

An enzyme that synthesizes DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides, functioning by adding nucleotides to the 3′ end of a growing DNA strand