Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, are composed of long chains of nucleotides. The nucleotides in a nucleic acid are linked together by specific bonds that form between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the sugar molecule of the adjacent nucleotide. This type of bond is known as a phosphodiester bond.
Let’s analyze each option:
- Disulphide bond is a covalent bond that forms between two cysteine amino acids in proteins. It is not involved in the structure of nucleic acids.
- Phosphodiester bond is the correct answer. This bond links the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the sugar molecule (usually deoxyribose or ribose) of the next nucleotide in DNA or RNA, forming the backbone of the nucleic acid structure.
- Ester bond is a bond between an alcohol and an acid. While ester bonds are common in other biological molecules, they are not involved in the structure of nucleic acids.
- Peptide bond is a covalent bond that links amino acids together to form proteins. It is unrelated to nucleic acids.
Thus, the correct answer is the phosphodiester bond, which is essential for the formation of nucleic acid chains.