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Ribonucleotide is a compound composed of a nucleotide base, a phosphate group, and the sugar ribose. It is a crucial component in the structure and function of ribonucleic acid (RNA), a type of nucleic acid found in all living cells.

Ribonucleotides are formed by the condensation of a nucleotide base, a phosphate group, and ribose through a process called phosphodiester bond formation, which forms a phosphodiester linkage between the phosphate group and the 5'-hydroxyl group of ribose. This process is catalyzed by enzymes called nucleotidyltransferases.

The four nucleotide bases found in RNA are adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). Together with ribose and a phosphate group, these bases combine to form the four ribonucleotide building blocks of RNA: adenosine monophosphate (AMP), uridine monophosphate (UMP), cytidine monophosphate (CMP), and guanosine monophosphate (GMP).

Ribonucleotides play a vital role in the synthesis of RNA molecules. During transcription, ribonucleotides are linked together to form a complementary strand of RNA that mirrors the sequence of DNA. In protein synthesis, ribonucleotides are incorporated into transfer RNA (tRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, which carry information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Ribonucleotides also play a key role in various cellular processes, including energy transfer, as they are a primary energy reservoir in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Their function in these processes underscores the importance of ribonucleotides in maintaining life at the molecular level.