PENTOSE Meaning and
Definition
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A pentose is a type of monosaccharide, which is a simple sugar that cannot be further broken down into smaller sugar molecules. Specifically, a pentose is a carbohydrate composed of five carbon atoms. It is classified as a monosaccharide because it consists of a single sugar unit.
Pentoses are commonly found in nature, particularly in the form of ribose and deoxyribose. Ribose is a pentose that plays a vital role in the structure of RNA, or ribonucleic acid. It serves as the backbone of RNA molecules and is involved in the storage and transfer of genetic information. On the other hand, deoxyribose is a pentose that is a component of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. It is crucial for the formation of the DNA double helix and the storage of genetic information.
Pentoses are important in various biological processes, including energy production and nucleic acid synthesis. They can be derived from the breakdown of larger carbohydrate molecules or obtained from dietary sources. In addition to their biological significance, pentoses also have applications in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. For example, they can be utilized in the production of anticancer drugs, antiviral agents, and vaccines.
In summary, a pentose is a five-carbon sugar that is a fundamental building block of nucleic acids like RNA and DNA. It plays critical roles in the transmission and storage of genetic information and is involved in numerous biological processes.
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A monosaccharid containing five carbon atoms in the molecule (C5H10O5); arabinose, obtained by boiling gum arabic or the gum of the plum or cherry tree with sulphuric acid, is one of the best known pentoses.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PENTOSE
- oentose
- lentose
- -entose
- 0entose
- pwntose
- psntose
- pdntose
- prntose
- p4ntose
- p3ntose
- pebtose
- pemtose
- pejtose
- pehtose
- penfose
- pengose
- penyose
- pen6ose
- pen5ose
Etymology of PENTOSE
The word "pentose" is derived from two components. "Pento-" comes from the Greek word "pente", meaning "five", and "-ose" is a suffix often used to indicate a sugar. In this case, "pentose" refers to a class of carbohydrates that have five carbon atoms.
Similar spelling words for PENTOSE
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