How do DNA and RNA respond to acid and base treatment?

Question

I need to know how each DNA and RNA respond when treated with acids or bases (strong or weak doesn't matter).

Answer 1

They will hydrolyze. Under basic conditions the OH- group will attack the phosphodiester backbone, releasing free phosphates. Under acidic conditions the phosphodiester backbone will become protonated, and then a simple water molecule will do the same thing (if you're trying to draw a mechanism, draw it from the lone pairs of the oxygen to the P in the phosphate as a first step).

The other answerer isn't correct. Both RNA and DNA are infinitely stable in room temperature at pH 7, as long as they're sealed from the air because almost all living things secrete (in your saliva, your sweat, your tears, etc.) nucleases which are enzymes that chop up both DNA and RNA. The nucleases chop up RNA faster, but without the nucleases RNA is perfectly stable.

Answer 2

All I can tell you is that I know that RNA is very unstable and can't survive long at room temperature. I think the difference between DNA and RNA is a single -OH group, rather than an H. So this bit of information should clue you into the answer.

Answer 3

I agree with some body and I would add that acid might not attack the backbone back might attack the bases of the DNA/RNA so at the end tretment with acid or base woud be bad for these molecules