Which of the following is true about the sugar puckering in B DNAa)C-2...
Endo puckering is the displacement of a specific carbon atom towards the oxygen atom, while exo puckering is displacement away from oxygen atom. In case of B-DNA (naturally occurring form), it is C-2 endo puckering.
In an endo form, sugars have carbon atoms puckered above the plane (on the side as the base) while in an exo form, the carbon atoms are puckered below this plane (on opposite side of base). C3’ endo pucker is prevalent in RNA and A-form DNA, whereas the C2’ endo pucker is characteristic of B-form DNA (C2’ endo pucker has the C2’ carbon pointed up and towards the base and in C3’ endo pucker, C3’-carbon pointed up and towards the base). The two conformations affects the overall conformation of DNA in the way that they specify different phosphate-phosphate distances along each strand (~7 Å for C2’-endo and ~6 Å for C3’-endo).
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Which of the following is true about the sugar puckering in B DNAa)C-2...
Sugar Puckering in B DNA
The sugar puckering in B DNA refers to the conformational changes that occur in the deoxyribose sugar molecule of the DNA backbone. The term "puckering" describes the distortion of the sugar ring from its ideal planar conformation. In B DNA, the sugar puckering occurs primarily at the C2' carbon atom.
Explanation:
The sugar puckering in B DNA is a result of the presence of a deoxyribose sugar molecule in the DNA backbone. The deoxyribose sugar has five carbon atoms, labeled C1' to C5', with the nitrogenous base attached to the C1' carbon atom.
In B DNA, the sugar puckering predominantly occurs at the C2' carbon atom. The sugar ring can adopt two different conformations at the C2' carbon:
1. C2' endo: In the C2' endo conformation, the C2' carbon atom is displaced towards the nitrogenous base. This conformation results in the sugar ring being slightly folded towards the nitrogenous base.
2. C2' exo: In the C2' exo conformation, the C2' carbon atom is displaced away from the nitrogenous base. This conformation results in the sugar ring being slightly unfolded away from the nitrogenous base.
Correct Answer:
The correct answer to the question is option 'A' - C-2 endo. This means that in B DNA, the sugar puckering occurs at the C2' carbon atom and the conformation of the sugar ring is C2' endo, where the C2' carbon is displaced towards the nitrogenous base.
Conclusion:
In B DNA, the sugar puckering primarily occurs at the C2' carbon atom, and the conformation of the sugar ring is C2' endo. This conformation is significant as it affects the overall structure and stability of the DNA molecule. Understanding the sugar puckering in DNA is crucial in studying DNA structure and its interactions with other molecules.