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 is an example of a deoxyribose?

Deoxyribonucleotides are nucleotides in which the sugar is deoxyribose. The purine bases (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidine bases (thymidine and cytosine) are bound to deoxyribose and phosphate and incorporated as necessary.

What are the sources of the sugar deoxyribose?

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