DNA is a polymer of nucleotides which are linked to each other by 3'-5’ phosphodiester bond. To prevent polymerisation of nucleotides, which of the following modifications would you choose?
a. Replace purine with pyrimidines
b. Remove/Replace 3′ OH group in deoxyribose
c. Remove/Replace 2′ OH group with some other group in deoxy ribose
d. Both 'b' and 'c'
The answer is the option (b) Remove/replace 3' OH group in deoxyribose
The phosphate of the nucleotide will not be able to form a link with the other nucleotide if the 3-OH group is present in the sugar backbone of DNA. Consequently, it is possible to stop the polymerisation. Hence, (b) is the correct option.