What is the function of deoxyribose in DNA?

What is the function of deoxyribose in DNA?

Deoxyribose is the sugar component of DNA, just as ribose serves that role in RNA (ribonucleic acid). Alternating with phosphate bases, deoxyribose forms the backbone of the DNA, binding to the nitrogenous bases adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. In RNA, uracil is the base rather than thymine.

What are the 3 components of deoxyribose?

The building blocks of DNA are nucleotides, which are made up of three parts: a deoxyribose (5-carbon sugar), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (Figure 9.3).

How is deoxyribose formed?

Deoxyribose is generated from ribose 5-phosphate by enzymes called ribonucleotide reductases. These enzymes catalyse the deoxygenation process.

What is the structure of a DNA?

The DNA molecule consists of two strands that wind around one another to form a shape known as a double helix. Each strand has a backbone made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases–adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).

What is deoxyribose in biology?

deoxyribose, also called d-2-deoxyribose, five-carbon sugar component of DNA (q.v.; deoxyribonucleic acid), where it alternates with phosphate groups to form the “backbone” of the DNA polymer and binds to nitrogenous bases.

What are the functional groups in deoxyribose?

Deoxyribose is an aldopentose, meaning that it is a monosaccharide which contains five carbon atoms, and also contains an aldehyde functional group in its linear structure. Essentially, the deoxy sugar is just a pentose sugar ribose, with the hydroxyl group at position 2 replaced with a hydrogen instead.

Who described the structure of DNA double helix?

In 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson first described the molecular structure of DNA, which they called a “double helix,” in the journal Nature. For this breakthrough discovery, Watson, Crick, and their colleague Maurice Wilkins won a Nobel Prize in Physiology, or Medicine, in 1962.

What is the location of Deoxyribose?

Summary. Genetic information is stored in DNA in the nucleus and mitochondria of cells. DNA consists of two strands of nucleotides on a phospho deoxyribose backbone. The two strands form a double helix that is stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds between nucleotide bases on the two strands.

What is the special term to describe the structure of DNA?

The double helix is a description of the molecular shape of a double-stranded DNA molecule. In 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson first described the molecular structure of DNA, which they called a “double helix,” in the journal Nature.

What are the functional groups of deoxyribose?

Is deoxyribose a macromolecule?

Nucleic acids are macromolecules that store, transmit and express the genetic information of a cell. DNA is the stored genetic material. The sugars in RNA are ribose, and in DNA are deoxyribose.

How does deoxyribose structurally differ from ribose?

Ribose has its location within the RNA, on the other hand, deoxyribose has its position within the DNA structure. Ribose exists as a normal sugar that has one oxygen atom attached to each carbon atom. On the other hand, deoxyribose exists as a modified sugar and does not have one oxygen atom with the carbon.

What is shape of deoxyribose?

Deoxyribose consists of five carbon atoms that form a pentagonal shape. As you can tell by its name, deoxyribose is a particular type of sugar known as a pentose monosaccharide, which contains five carbon atoms. Ribose, which is contained in the name, is also considered a pentose monosaccharide.

What is the biological function of deoxyribose?

Biological importance. As a component of DNA, 2-deoxyribose derivatives have an important role in biology. The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule, which is the main repository of genetic information in life, consists of a long chain of deoxyribose-containing units called nucleotides, linked via phosphate groups.

What is the molecular formula for Deoxyribose?

Deoxyribose, or more precisely 2-deoxyribose, is a monosaccharide with idealized formula H−(C=O)−(CH2)−(CHOH)3−H. Its name indicates that it is a deoxy sugar, meaning that it is derived from the sugar ribose by loss of an oxygen atom.