In: Biology
What does it mean that the strands of DNA are anti-parallel?
DNA is composed of two strands which are spirally coiled around one another. The strands are antiparallel to one another and are held closely by hydrogen bonds. It is coiled around its own axis.
The back bone of DNA polynucleotide strand is formed by alternately arranged phosphate and sugar groups. They are linked with each other by phosphate – diester bonds. With these bonds the DNA molecules is formed by helical coiling of two antiparallel strands running one from 5' ………….3' and other from 3' …………….. 5' . Or in opposite direction so that the 3' end of one strand lies opposite to the 5' end of another strand. Simply, the head of one strand is always laid against the tail of the other strand of DNA.