What feature distinguishes RNA's ribose from DNA's deoxyribose?

The distinguishing feature between RNA's ribose and DNA's deoxyribose is the presence of a hydroxyl group on the 2' carbon of the ribose sugar. In RNA, the 2' carbon has a hydroxyl group (-OH), making it a ribose sugar. In contrast, the 2' carbon of deoxyribose contains only a hydrogen atom (-H), indicating the absence of the hydroxyl group. This difference is crucial because it impacts the stability and function of the nucleic acids.

The presence of a hydroxyl group in RNA contributes to its susceptibility to hydrolysis and generally makes RNA less stable than DNA, which can be advantageous for functions like protein synthesis, where RNA needs to be quickly synthesized and degraded. This structural distinction also plays a role in the ability of RNA to fold into various shapes essential for its function in the cell.

While nitrogenous bases and phosphate groups are important components of both RNA and DNA, the specific sugars—ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA—are what primarily differentiate these two types of nucleic acids in terms of structure and stability.