Which sugar is prevalent in RNA?

Ribose is the sugar that is prevalent in RNA (ribonucleic acid). In the structure of RNA, ribose serves as the backbone that connects the nitrogenous bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil) to the phosphate groups. The presence of ribose is crucial as it contains a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to the 2' carbon atom, which distinguishes it from deoxyribose, the sugar found in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The additional hydroxyl group in ribose makes RNA more reactive and less stable than DNA, which is essential for its function in protein synthesis and other cellular processes. This unique structure allows RNA to perform a variety of roles, including serving as a messenger between DNA and ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized. Understanding the composition and role of ribose is fundamental to grasping the overall function of RNA in biological systems.