[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$fAb84RgHaEYPdJyT4UA_s0RsOxZxpf7vIkQbM0mc4pQw":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"structure-of-dna","Structure and Components of DNA",null,"Sushmita Baniya","2022-08-04","2025-12-29",false,"molecular-biology","DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a hereditary material commonly found in the nucleus of a cell. It is also present in mitochondria, which is called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). DNA is a polymer of the many mono-deoxy ribonucleotides, covalently linked by 3′-5′ phosphodiester bonds. It is a double-stranded molecule in which two strands wind around each other and form a double helix. Whereas some viruses like Parvovirus have a single-stranded DNA molecule.\n\n**DNA consists of deoxyribose sugar, nitrogenous bases (purine and pyrimidine), and phosphoric acid. Information is encoded in the DNA as the sequences of ATGC. Adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) with the double hydrogen bonds, whereas guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C) with the triple hydrogen bonds.** **The arrangement of the nucleotides (ATGC) in two strands gives rise to the spiral structure of DNA, commonly known as the double helix.**\n\n![Structure of DNA - Structure of DNA,Courtesy: National Human Genome Research Institute](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FDNAA.png)\n\u003Cfigcaption>Figure: Structure of DNA,Courtesy: National Human Genome Research Institute\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\n\n## Components of DNA\n\nThe essential components of DNA are acid (phosphoric acid), pentose sugar (deoxyribose sugar), and nitrogen bases; purine (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidine (cytosine and thymine).\n\n![phosphoric acid , deoxyribose sugar, and nitrogenous bases - Phosphoric acid, deoxyribose sugar, and nitrogenous bases](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FDNA-components.png)\n\u003Cfigcaption>Figure: Phosphoric acid, deoxyribose sugar, and nitrogenous bases\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\n\n### Phosphoric acid\n\nIt contains the three monovalent hydroxyl groups and one divalent oxygen atom linked to the pentavalent phosphorus atom. The molecular formula of phosphoric acid is H3PO4.\n\n### Pentose sugar\n\nDeoxyribose sugar is the pentose sugar present in the DNA. Since it lacks one oxygen atom in carbon-2, it is known as deoxyribose. Pentose sugar forms the ester with phosphoric acid and forms the 3’-5′ phosphodiester bond.\n\n### 3′-5′ phosphodiester bonds\n\nPhoshpodiester bond is present between the 5’-hydroxyl group and the 3’-hydroxyl group of the deoxypentose of the nucleotides. The phosphate group joins these hydroxyl groups in the adjacent nucleotides. In the DNA, the sequences are encoded in the 5′ end to the 3′ end of the chain. E.g., 5’-ATGC-3′\n\n### Nitrogenous bases\n\nThere are two types of nitrogenous bases: purine and pyrimidines. The purine derivatives present in the DNA are adenine (A) and guanine (G). The pyrimidine derivatives present in the DNA are thymine (T) and cytosine ( C). In the case of the RNA, thymine (T) is absent, which is replaced by the uracil (U).\n\n## Base-compositions of DNA (Chargaff rule)\n\nThe Chargaff rule was given by Erwin Chargaff and his colleagues in the 1940s and has given the following conclusions:\n\n- The base composition of DNA generally varies from one species to another.\n- DNA specimens isolated from the different tissues of the same species have the same base composition.\n- The base composition of DNA in a given species does not change with the organism’s age, nutritional state, or changing environment.\n- The number of adenine is equal to thymine (A=T), and guanine is equal to cytosine (G=C), i.e., A+G=T+C.\n\nProportion of the nitrogenous bases in human and *E.coli* are:\n\n- Human: A-30.9 T-29.4 G-19.9 C-19.8\n- *E.coli*: A-24.7 T-23.6 G-26.0 C-25.7\n\n## Primary structure of DNA\n\nThe primary structure of DNA consists of the linear sequence of nucleotides linked together by phosphodiester bonds. Nucleotides is composed of three components; **nitrogenous bases, 5-carbon (pentose) sugar, and phosphate groups.**\n\n![primary structure of DNA - Primary structure of DNA](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fprimary-structure-of-DNA.jpg)\n\u003Cfigcaption>Figure: Primary structure of DNA\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\n\n## Secondary structure of DNA\n\nThe secondary structure of DNA is a set of interactions between the bases, i.e., two linear strands bound to each other by phosphodiester bonds forming the double helical structure of the DNA. The secondary structure is responsible for maintaining the shape of the nucleic acid.\n\n## Tertiary structure of DNA\n\nThe tertiary structure of DNA is the most common double helix structure which includes the 3-forms of the DNA; **A, B, and Z form**. The handedness (left or right) of the DNA, length of helix turn, and the number of bases per turn are the basis for the different forms. It is the location of the atom in the 3-dimensional space.\n\n### Double helix: Watson and Crick’s model\n\nWatson and Crick’s model of double helical DNA was postulated by James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick in 1953. According to this model, the two helical DNA chains are wound around each other in the same axis of symmetry.\n\n![Watson and crick's model of DNA - Watson and Crick’s model of double-helical DNA, source: Nature](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fdna-JPG.jpg)\n\u003Cfigcaption>Figure: Watson and Crick’s model of double-helical DNA, source: Nature\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\n\nThe purine and the pyrimidine bases in both the strands are hydrophobic and stacked inside the double helix. Deoxyribose and phosphate groups are the backbone of the DNA outside the double helix, which are hydrophilic.\n\nWhen these two helices are wound around each other, two types of grooves are formed: major groove and the minor groove.\n\n- Major groove: width-12 nm, depth-8.5 nm\n- Minor groove: width-6 nm, depth-7.5 nm\n\n**The diameter of the helix is 20 Å (Angstrom). The bases are 3.4 Å apart on the helix axis. The length of each helical turn is 34 Å. In each of the complete turns of the double helix, 10 base pairs are present in it.**\n\nThe hydrogen bond present in the double helix confers stability in the DNA. There is a double hydrogen bond between adenine and guanine, whereas triple hydrogen bonds are present between cytosine and thymine.**The B-form of DNA(Watson-Crick structure of DNA)is the most stable form of DNA.**\n\n#### A-DNA\n\n- The size of the A-DNA is about 26 Å.\n- It is a right-handed double helix.\n- It contains 11 base pairs per helical turn.\n\n#### B-DNA\n\n- The size of the B-DNA is about 20 Å.\n- It is a right-handed double helix.\n- It contains 10 base pairs per helical turn.\n\n#### Z-DNA\n\n- The size of the Z-DNA is about 18 Å.\n- It is a left-handed double helix.\n- It contains 12 base pairs per helical turn.\n\n![different forms of DNA - Different forms of DNA](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fform-of-dna.png)\n\u003Cfigcaption>Figure: Different forms of DNA\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\n\n> Some viruses like Parvoviruses contain single-stranded DNA.\n\n## The difference between double-stranded DNA and single-stranded DNA\n\nAlthough double stranded and single stranded DNA has same composition, these have different strand (single stranded has one and double stranded has two) aligned in different shapes. Likewise, the A\u002FT and G\u002FC ratio also differs. A detailed difference is given below:\n\n| ds DNA (double stranded DNA) | ss DNA (single stranded DNA) |\n| --- | --- |\n| Double-stranded DNA is a linear or filamentous type. | It is stellate-shaped (star-like) |\n| DNA double helix behaves as a rigid rod. | It behaves as a randomly coiled polymer. |\n| A\u002FT ratio approaches unity. | A\u002FT ratio is 0.77 |\n| G\u002FC ratio also approaches unity. | G\u002FC ratio is 1.3 |\n| It is resistant to the action of formaldehyde. | It reacts readily with formaldehyde. |\n| Ultraviolet absorption increases from 0℃ to 80 ℃. | Ultraviolet absorption increases from 20℃ to 90℃. |\n\n## Functions of DNA\n\nThe DNA carries and transfers the genetic material from the parent cell to its offspring during replication. DNA also carries all the genetic codes for synthesizing RNA. The RNA then codes proteins essential for the growth, development, and proper functioning of any cell. So, DNA can be termed an instruction manual for cells.\n\n**References**\n\n- Watson, J., Baker, T., Bell, S., Gann, A., Levine, M., & Losick, R. (2004). *Molecular biology of the gene* (5th ed.). Pearson Education.\n- *Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)*. Genome.gov. (2022). Retrieved 4 August 2022, from [https:\u002F\u002Fwww.genome.gov\u002Fgenetics-glossary\u002FDeoxyribonucleic-Acid](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.genome.gov\u002Fgenetics-glossary\u002FDeoxyribonucleic-Acid).\n- Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002. The Structure and Function of DNA. Available from: [https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fbooks\u002FNBK26821\u002F](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fbooks\u002FNBK26821\u002F)\n- Pray, L. (2008) Discovery of DNA structure and function: Watson and Crick. *Nature Education* 1(1):100",[],[],[],[48,55,62,66,70,74,79,84,88,92],{"slug":49,"name":50,"description":51,"image":52,"body":53,"postCount":54},"acharya-tankeshwar","Acharya Tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",433,{"slug":56,"name":57,"description":58,"image":59,"body":60,"postCount":61},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":63,"name":38,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":65},"sushmita-baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":67,"name":68,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":69},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":71,"name":72,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":73},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":75,"name":76,"description":77,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":78},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",10,{"slug":80,"name":81,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":83},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":85,"name":86,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":87},"srijana-khanal","Srijana Khanal",18,{"slug":89,"name":90,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":91},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":93,"name":94,"description":64,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","Nisha Rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]