Q. What are the pentoses? What are the vital roles of pentoses in DNA and RNA molecules?
Pentoses are carbohydrates whole of five carbons.
The DNA molecule is made of a sequence of molecules known as nucleotides. Each nucleotide is formed by the association of one pentose called deoxyribose with a nitrogen-containing base and a phosphoric acid (A, T, C or G). RNA is as well formed by a sequence of nucleotides. The RNA nucleotides are made by association of one ribose (a pentose) with one nitrogen-containing base and one phosphoric acid (A, U, C or G).
So pentoses are essential components of DNA and RNA.