What type of sugar is found in RNA?

In RNA (ribonucleic acid), the type of sugar that plays a crucial role is ribose. This five-carbon sugar is fundamental to the structure of RNA, as it forms the backbone along with phosphate groups. Each ribose molecule is attached to the nitrogenous bases (adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine), facilitating the formation of RNA strands.

Ribose differs from deoxyribose, which is found in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The primary distinction is the presence of an oxygen atom on the second carbon of ribose, which is absent in deoxyribose. This small structural difference significantly impacts the stability and function of these nucleic acids.

Glucose and fructose are both simple sugars, but they are not involved in the structure of RNA. Glucose plays a role in energy metabolism, while fructose is found in fruits and sweeteners, with no direct involvement in RNA or DNA structures.