ribose

[ rahy-bohs ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble, slightly sweet solid, C 5 H 1 0 O 5 , a pentose sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of RNA.

ribose

/ -bəʊs; ˈraɪbəʊz /

noun

1. biochem a pentose sugar that is an isomeric form of arabinose and that occurs in RNA and riboflavin. Formula: CH 2 OH(CHOH) 3 CHO

ribose

/ rī′bōs′ /

1. A pentose sugar with a furanose structure that occurs as a component of riboflavin and RNA. Chemical formula: C 5 H 10 O 5 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of ribose¹

1890–95; < German Ribose, earlier Ribonsäure, equivalent to Ribon (from Arabinose arabinose, by arbitrary rearrangement and shortening) + Säure acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of ribose¹

C20: changed from arabinose

Example Sentences

RNA’s spine is a sugar called ribose, while DNA’s is deoxyribose.

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