What does ribose mean?
Ribose is a naturally occurring five-carbon monosaccharide, or simple sugar, used as a structural component of ribonucleotides. It is especially important in biochemistry because ribose forms part of RNA, linking its nitrogenous bases to the phosphate backbone of the molecule. Ribose also occurs in ATP, adenosine, and several phosphorylated compounds involved in cellular energy transfer. Although the related sugar deoxyribose is associated with DNA, ribose is the defining sugar of RNA. The term is used almost exclusively in scientific, medical, and biochemical writing, where it normally appears as an uncountable noun. Understanding ribose helps clarify the chemical differences between RNA and DNA and the structure of molecules central to metabolism and genetic information.
nounA monosaccharide sugar with five carbon atoms, occurring naturally in ribonucleic acid and in various phosphorylated forms. It is a component of ribonucleotides and is involved in the structure of RNA and the energy-carrying molecule ATP.
- The monosaccharide sugar that forms the sugar portion of ribonucleotides and occurs in RNA, ribonucleoside compounds, and phosphorylated metabolites.
"The backbone of an RNA molecule consists of nucleotides joined by ribose sugars and phosphate groups."
"Ribose is one of the building blocks of RNA."
"The cell uses ribose phosphate to transfer energy in reactions involving ATP."
Plural usage is uncommon; it usually refers to different forms or samples of ribose.
"The researchers compared several riboses isolated from different organisms."
Ribose is the five-carbon sugar that gives RNA its name and helps carry the energy in ATP.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ribose come from?
The English word ribose is a chemical term borrowed from the German scientific name Ribose. The name belongs to the nomenclature of sugars and identifies a monosaccharide with five carbon atoms. From this chemical root came related terms for compounds containing or derived from ribose, including ribosides, ribonucleotides, and ribosyl groups.
Related word forms
How ribose is actually used
In scientific and biochemical contexts, ribose is normally used as an uncountable noun. Plural forms are uncommon and usually refer to samples or forms of the compound rather than to individual molecules.
Easily confused with ribose
Ribose is the five-carbon sugar in RNA, whereas deoxyribose is the related sugar found in DNA.
Ribose is the sugar itself, while ribose phosphate is a phosphorylated derivative used in cellular energy metabolism.