What type of sugar does RNA contain that contributes to its reactivity?

RNA contains ribose, which is a five-carbon sugar that has an -OH (hydroxyl) group on the second carbon atom. This hydroxyl group is crucial because it makes RNA more reactive and less stable compared to DNA, which contains deoxyribose. Deoxyribose lacks this hydroxyl group at the second carbon, making DNA more chemically stable and suitable for long-term information storage.

The presence of the hydroxyl group in ribose allows RNA to participate in various chemical reactions, contributing to its roles in catalysis and interactions with other molecules during processes like transcription and translation. This reactivity is fundamental to RNA's function in cellular processes, including protein synthesis and regulatory mechanisms.

Other sugars listed, such as glucose and mannose, are not involved in the structure of nucleic acids, and thus do not contribute to the reactivity of RNA. They play roles in energy metabolism and other biological functions but are not relevant to the chemical properties of RNA.