How do components of a DNA molecule influence its physical properties? (3 points) Deoxyribose and phosphate, linked by phosphodiester bonds, form repeating units to make up the backbone of DNA. Deoxyribose molecules, nitrogenous bases, and phosphate side chains are linked by glycosidic bonds to give DNA its helical shape. Nitrogenous bases and phosphate groups are linked by peptide bonds and then folded to give DNA its helical shape. Nitrogenous bases have a phosphate bound to its 3' end and a deoxyribose bound to its 5' end to form the backbone of DNA.