Peptide nucleic acid

Full definition of peptide nucleic acid

Noun

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

Usage notes

PNA is not an acid

Derived terms

• PNA abbreviation

Related terms

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