dideoxyribonucleotide

dideoxyribonucleotide

a modified deoxyribonucleotide that lacks the 3' hydroxyl (3'-OH) group of the SUGAR component, DEOXYRIBOSE. This group is needed for the next nucleotide to attach to a growing POLYNUCLEOTIDE CHAIN during DNA synthesis. Thus if a dideoxyribonucleotide becomes incorporated into a polynucleotide chain, instead of the normal deoxyribonucleotide, it prevents further chain elongation and termination occurs instead. A dideoxyribonucleotide can be used as a chain terminator in DNA SEQUENCING techniques that depend upon the controlled interruption of DNA synthesis. See NUCLEOTIDE.