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Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid

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• Published: 25 April 1953

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

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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.

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1. Pauling, L., and Corey, R. B., Nature, 171, 346 (1953); Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 39, 84 (1953).

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2. Furberg, S., Acta Chem. Scand., 6, 634 (1952).

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3. Chargaff, E., for references see Zamenhof, S., Brawerman, G., and Chargaff, E., Biochim. et Biophys. Acta, 9, 402 (1952).

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4. Wyatt, G. R., J. Gen. Physiol., 36, 201 (1952).

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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).

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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

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

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

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• Published: 25 April 1953

• Issue Date: 25 April 1953

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0

The determination in 1953 of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), with its two entwined helices and paired organic bases, was a tour de force in X-ray crystallography. But more significantly, it also opened the way for a deeper understanding of perhaps the most important biological process. In the words of Watson and Crick: "It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing that we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material." [Obituary of Francis Crick: Nature 430, 845-847 (2004); obituary of Maurice Wilkins: Nature 431, 922 (2004)]

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