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RNA and DNA are chiral molecules, their chirality is due to
A
chiral bases
B
chiral phosphate ester units
C
D-sugar component
D
L-sugar component
Detailed Solution
Each nucleic acid consists of a pentose sugar, a heterocyclic base and phosphoric acid.
The sugar present in DNA is 2-deoxy-D(-)-ribose and the sugar present in RNA is D(-)-ribose.
These pentose sugars contain asymmetric (chiral) carbon atoms and belong to the D-series.
The heterocyclic bases (purines and pyrimidines) are planar aromatic rings and are not chiral.
The phosphate ester units are also not chiral.
So the chirality of DNA and RNA molecules is due to the presence of the D-sugar component.
The sugar present in DNA is 2-deoxy-D(-)-ribose and the sugar present in RNA is D(-)-ribose.
These pentose sugars contain asymmetric (chiral) carbon atoms and belong to the D-series.
The heterocyclic bases (purines and pyrimidines) are planar aromatic rings and are not chiral.
The phosphate ester units are also not chiral.
So the chirality of DNA and RNA molecules is due to the presence of the D-sugar component.