Difference Between Ribose and Deoxyribose

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Ribose and deoxyribose are both forms of simple sugars or monosaccharides that are found in the living organisms. They are of great importance biologically as they help to form the blueprint of the organism which is then passed on through generations. Any change in the blueprint in one generation of the species is manifested in the next in the form of physical or evolutionary changes. But ribose and deoxyribose have some subtle yet vital differences.

Ribose sugar

This is a pentose sugar which has five carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms. Its molecular formula is C5H10O5.  This is also known as aldopentose as it has an aldehyde group attached at the end of the chain in the open form. The ribose sugar is a regular monosaccharide in which one oxygen atom is attached to each carbon atom in the chain. On the second carbon atom, instead of hydrogen, hydroxyl group is attached. The hydroxyl groups on the second, third and fifth carbon atoms are free so that three phosphate atoms can attach there. The ribonucleoside formed by the combination of ribose sugar and a nitrogenous base becomes ribonucleotide, when a phosphate atom gets attached to it. The base can be either purine or pyramidine which are actually types of amino acids. Amino acids are building blocks for proteins. The ribonucleotide or ribonucleic acid (RNA) has three chiral centres and eight stereoisomers. The ribose sugar is found in the RNA of living organisms. The RNA is a single stranded molecule that winds around itself. RNA or ribonucleic acid is the molecule responsible for coding and decoding genetic information. In simple language it helps to copy and express the blue print of the organism and also helps in the transfer of genetic information to the progeny. They also help in protein synthesis.

Deoxyribose sugar

Deoxyribose is also a form of pentose sugar but with one oxygen atom less. The chemical formula of deoxyribose sugar is C5H10O4. It is also an aldopentose sugar as it has an aldehyde group attached to it. The modification helps the enzymes present in the living body to differentiate between ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid. The shape of deoxyribose sugar is such that four out of five carbon atoms along with an atom of oxygen form a five membered ring. The remaining carbon atom is attached to two hydrogen atoms and lies outside the ring. The hydroxyl groups on the third and fifth carbon atom are free to attach to phosphate atoms. As a result only two phosphate atoms can attach to deoxyribose sugar. Deoxyribose plus a protein base which can be either purine or pyramidine forms deoxyribonucleoside. When phosphate atoms attach to deoxyribonucleoside it forms deoxyribonucleic acid or the DNA. DNA is the store house of genetic information in all living organisms. Every organism has a different DNA which is responsible for the characteristic features of that species or organism. Changes in the DNA molecule brings about a change in the genetic make- up of the organism. DNA is a double helical structure composed of nucleotides attached in a spiral shape. Nucleotide is composed of a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar and phosphate. The arrangement of the nitrogenous base forms the genetic code for that organism.

To summarize, ribose and deoxyribose are simple sugars that form a part of nucleic acids that are one of the important macromolecules present in all living organisms. Just like proteins and carbohydrates, nucleic acid is also a vital for survival of all living organisms.

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