peptide nucleic acid

English

PNA

Noun

peptide nucleic acid (plural peptide nucleic acids)

1. (biochemistry) A synthetic organic polymer similar to DNA or RNA; the sugar backbone of nucleic acids is replaced by N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine linked through peptide bonds - considered a possible precursor to RNA

   Synonym: (abbreviation) PNA

Usage notes

PNA is not an acid

Related terms

• nucleic acid
• ribonucleic acid (RNA)
• deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• glycol nucleic acid (GNA)
• threose nucleic acid (TNA)