Nucleic acid other biological data made available through the NCBI web site. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid containing the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. The DNA segments carrying this genetic information are called genes. Likewise, other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in regulating the use of this genetic information. Along with RNA and proteins, DNA is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life. DNA consists of two long polymers of simple units called nucleotides, with backbones made of sugars and phosphate
Prephenic acid Prephenic acid Prephenic acid, commonly also known by its anionic form prephenate, is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, as well as of a large number of secondary metabolites of the shikimate pathway. It is biosynthesized by a [3,3]-sigmatropic Claisen rearrangement of chorismate. Prephenic acid is an example of achiral (optically inactive) molecule which has two pseudoasymmetric atoms ("i.e." stereogenic but not chirotopic centers), the C1 and the C4 cyclohexadiene ring atoms. It has been shown that of the two possible diastereoisomers, the natural prephenic acid is one that has both substituents at