What components make up the structural framework of DNA?

The structural framework of DNA is composed of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases. This composition is crucial for forming the double helix structure characteristic of DNA. The sugar-phosphate backbone provides structural stability, while the nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine) contain the genetic information. The bases pair specifically (adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine) through hydrogen bonds, which is essential for the replication and transcription processes in cells.

Other components listed, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, do not form the fundamental structure of DNA. Instead, they participate in cellular processes and functions. A single strand of nucleotides indicates part of what DNA consists of, but for the complete structural framework, both the sugar and phosphate are necessary as part of the backbone. RNA and enzymes have distinct roles in genetic processes but do not form DNA's structural framework. Thus, sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases together create the complete and functional architecture of DNA.