deoxýribósa

Deoxyribose is a deoxy sugar, specifically an aldopentose. This means it is a monosaccharide with five carbon atoms and a formyl group. It is a derivative of the pentose sugar ribose, differing only in the absence of an oxygen atom at the 2' (two prime) carbon position. The name "deoxyribose" itself reflects this structural difference, indicating that an oxygen has been removed.

This molecule is of paramount biological importance as it is a fundamental component of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In DNA, deoxyribose units are linked together by phosphodiester bonds to form the sugar-phosphate backbone. The structure of deoxyribose, with its 2'-deoxy group, contributes to the stability of the DNA double helix. While deoxyribose is most famously associated with DNA, it is also found in some modified nucleotides and nucleosides. Its specific structure allows for the formation of the stable helical structure characteristic of genetic material.