Phosphodiester bond

A covalent linkage in nucleic acids in which one phosphate group connects the sugars of two nucleotides. It forms the sugar–phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA.

Nucleotidyl transfer: A reaction that transfers a nucleotide group to an acceptor, forming a new covalent bond. Polymerases create backbone linkages by transferring an incoming nucleotide to a growing nucleic-acid chain.
Nucleotide: A molecule composed of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. Nucleotides are the repeating units joined by phosphodiester bonds in DNA and RNA.
DNA: A nucleic acid that stores hereditary information in most organisms and many viruses. Phosphodiester bonds connect DNA’s nucleotides into its durable strands.
Nuclease: An enzyme that hydrolyzes phosphodiester bonds in DNA or RNA. Nucleases degrade genetic material by cutting its covalent backbone.
DNA polymerase: An enzyme that synthesizes DNA by adding nucleotides to a growing strand. It forms phosphodiester bonds while extending DNA in the 5′-to-3′ direction.
Nucleoside: A molecule consisting of a nitrogenous base attached to a five-carbon sugar. The sugar in a nucleoside supplies the positions that connect to phosphate in a nucleic-acid backbone.
RNA: A nucleic acid involved in gene expression, regulation, catalysis, and other cellular functions. Its nucleotide chain is held together by phosphodiester bonds.
DNA stability: The persistence of DNA’s chemical structure and sequence under physical and chemical conditions. The negatively charged, covalent backbone helps DNA remain intact while still permitting enzymatic repair and cleavage.
RNA polymerase: An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA or RNA template. It builds RNA chains by forming phosphodiester bonds between ribonucleotides.
Ribose: A five-carbon sugar found in RNA and in several biologically important molecules. Its 3′ and 5′ hydroxyl groups participate in the RNA backbone linkage.

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