What pentose sugar is a constituent of DNA?

Study for the Biochemistry Module 6 Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions; each question includes hints and explanations. Gear up to ace your test!

Multiple Choice

What pentose sugar is a constituent of DNA?

Explanation:
DNA contains a five-carbon sugar called 2'-deoxyribose. The key feature is that this sugar lacks a hydroxyl group at the 2' position (it has a hydrogen there). That small change—no 2'-OH—distinguishes DNA's backbone from RNA, whose sugar is ribose with a 2'-OH. Glucose and galactose, by contrast, are hexoses (six carbons) and thus not the pentose used in DNA. So the pentose in DNA is 2'-deoxyribose.

DNA contains a five-carbon sugar called 2'-deoxyribose. The key feature is that this sugar lacks a hydroxyl group at the 2' position (it has a hydrogen there). That small change—no 2'-OH—distinguishes DNA's backbone from RNA, whose sugar is ribose with a 2'-OH. Glucose and galactose, by contrast, are hexoses (six carbons) and thus not the pentose used in DNA. So the pentose in DNA is 2'-deoxyribose.

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