What pentose sugar is a constituent of RNA?

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 RNA?

Explanation:
RNA uses ribose, a five-carbon sugar, as its backbone. The important distinction is that ribose has a hydroxyl group at the 2' position, whereas deoxyribose (in DNA) lacks that 2' OH. Glucose is a six-carbon sugar, not a pentose, so it isn’t used in nucleic acids. So ribose is the pentose that constitutes RNA.

RNA uses ribose, a five-carbon sugar, as its backbone. The important distinction is that ribose has a hydroxyl group at the 2' position, whereas deoxyribose (in DNA) lacks that 2' OH. Glucose is a six-carbon sugar, not a pentose, so it isn’t used in nucleic acids. So ribose is the pentose that constitutes RNA.

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