Question

Phosphate groups are bound to the _____ carbon of a free nucleotide monomer, and when this nucleotide gets incorporated into an existing polynucleotide, the phosphate attaches through the -OH on the _____ carbon of the last nucleotide in the existing chain.

Answer 1

5′ (5 prime) carbon atom; 3' (3 prime) carbon

Step-by-step explanation:

A nucleotide consists of three components:

a nitrogen-containing base, a pentose sugar, and one to three phosphate groups

The phosphate bonds are attached to the C-5 of the monomer sugar ring. The sugar ring is a five membered ring having oxygen atom also in the ring.

During formation of nucleic acid, the new nucleotides are added to the existing chain. Pentose sugar in last nucleotide of existing chain and phosphate on new nucleotide condenses with the OH at the position 3'

Thus, Answer - 5′ (5 prime) carbon atom; 3' (3 prime) carbon