Editing Ribonucleotide (section)

{{Short description|Nucleotide containing ribose as its pentose component}}
In biochemistry, a '''ribonucleotide''' is a [[nucleotide]] containing [[ribose]] as its [[pentose]] component. It is considered a molecular precursor of [[nucleic acids]]. Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of [[DNA]] and [[RNA]]. Ribonucleotides themselves are basic monomeric building blocks for RNA. [[Deoxyribonucleotide]]s, formed by reducing ribonucleotides with the enzyme [[ribonucleotide reductase]] (RNR), are essential building blocks for DNA.<ref name=Nelson08>{{cite book|last1=Nelson|first1=David L. |first2=Albert L. |last2=Lehninger |first3=Michael M. |last3=Cox |title=Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry|year=2008|publisher=W H Freeman |pages=272–3 |edition=5th |isbn=978-0-7167-7108-1}}</ref> There are several differences between DNA deoxyribonucleotides and RNA ribonucleotides. Successive nucleotides are linked together via phosphodiester bonds.

Ribonucleotides are also utilized in other cellular functions. These special monomers are utilized in both cell regulation and [[cell signaling]] as seen in adenosine-monophosphate ([[Adenosine monophosphate|AMP]]). Furthermore, ribonucleotides can be converted to adenosine triphosphate ([[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]]), the energy currency in organisms. Ribonucleotides can be converted to cyclic adenosine monophosphate ([[cyclic AMP]]) to regulate hormones in organisms as well.<ref name=Nelson08 /> In living organisms, the most common bases for ribonucleotides are [[adenine]] (A), [[guanine]] (G), [[cytosine]] (C), or [[uracil]] (U). The nitrogenous bases are classified into two parent compounds, [[purine]] and [[pyrimidine]].

[[File:Ribonucleotide General.png|320px|thumb|class=skin-invert|General Ribonucleotide Structure: phosphate group, Ribose, Nucleobase.]]