ribose

ribose (rī'bōs) [key], monosaccharide carbohydrate of universal distribution in living tissue, found in ribonucleic acid (RNA; see nucleic acid), free nucleotides, and various coenzymes. Its close relative, deoxyribose, is a constituent of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); ribose has one more oxygen atom in its molecule than deoxyribose. Some of the best procedures for the laboratory preparation of ribose involve the hydrolysis of yeast nucleic acid.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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