High
molecular weight, linear polymers, composed of
nucleotides containing deoxyribose and linked by phosphodiester bonds;
DNA contain the genetic information of organisms. The double-stranded form consists of
a double
helix of two complementary chains that run in opposite directions and are held together
by hydrogen bonds between pairs of the complementary
nucleotides and Hoogsteen (stacking) forces.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 151
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
