Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (original) (raw)

Nature volume 171, pages 737–738 (1953) Cite this article

WE wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A.). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest.

A structure for nucleic acid has already been proposed by Pauling and Corey1. They kindly made their manuscript available to us in advance of publication. Their model consists of three intertwined chains, with the phosphates near the fibre axis, and the bases on the outside. In our opinion, this structure is unsatisfactory for two reasons : (1) We believe that the material which gives the X-ray diagrams is the salt, not the free acid. Without the acidic hydrogen atoms it is not clear what forces would hold the structure together, especially as the negatively charged phosphates near the axis will repel each other. (2) Some of the van der Waals distances appear to be too small.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 52 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.83 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pauling, L., and Corey, R. B., Nature, 171, 346 (1953); Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 39, 84 (1953).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  2. Furberg, S., Acta Chem. Scand., 6, 634 (1952).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. Chargaff, E., for references see Zamenhof, S., Brawerman, G., and Chargaff, E., Biochim. et Biophys. Acta, 9, 402 (1952).
    Article Google Scholar
  4. Wyatt, G. R., J. Gen. Physiol., 36, 201 (1952).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  5. Astbury, W. T., Symp. Soc. Exp. Boil. 1, Nucleic Acid, 66 (Camb. Univ. Press, 1947).
  6. Wilkins, M. H. F., and Randall, J. T., Biochim. et Biophys. Acta, 10, 192 (1953).
    Article CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Council Unit for the Study of the Molecular Structure of Biological Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. April 2. https://www.nature.com/nature
    J. D. WATSON & F. H. C. CRICK

Authors

  1. J. D. WATSON
  2. F. H. C. CRICK

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

WATSON, J., CRICK, F. Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.Nature 171, 737–738 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0

Download citation

Comments

Commenting on this article is now closed.

  1. Charles Patrick Doncaster 13 May 2021, 14:55
    The html version of this article is showing the wrong figure. See the pdf version for the correct figure.