What describes the orientation of the nucleotide strands in DNA?

The anti-parallel structure of DNA refers to the orientation of the two strands that make up the double helix. In DNA, one strand runs in the 5' to 3' direction while the other strand runs in the 3' to 5' direction. This opposite orientation is crucial for the complementary base pairing between the strands, as it enables specific pairing of adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine. The anti-parallel arrangement facilitates replication and transcription processes because enzymes that synthesize nucleic acids, like DNA polymerase, can effectively work in such an arrangement. This characteristic of DNA strands not only supports the stability of the double helix but also plays a vital role in the mechanisms of genetic information transmission and expression.