Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

phosphodiester

noun

/ˌfɒs.fəʊ.daɪˈɛs.tər/

Definition

A phosphodiester is a type of chemical bond that joins two nucleotides in a nucleic acid, such as DNA or RNA.

Examples

The phosphodiester bond links the 3′ carbon atom of one sugar to the 5′ carbon of another sugar in the backbone of DNA.
In RNA, the phosphodiester bond is formed between a ribose sugar and a phosphate group, creating a long chain suitable for protein synthesis.

Meaning

In biochemistry, phosphodiester linkages are essential for the formation of the sugar-phosphate backbone in the structure of nucleic acids, permitting the storage and transmission of genetic information.