The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE ) explains that the ribose is a aldopentosa found in certain kinds of nucleic acids called ribonucleic acids . It is clear that, to understand this definition, we must know what the terms mentioned refer to.
A aldopentosa is a monosaccharide which has five atoms of carbon and an aldehyde functional group. The monosaccharides, meanwhile, are polyols (organic elements that have different alcoholic groups) with an additional ketone or aldehyde group.
As for ribonucleic acids or RNA , it can be said that they are biopolymers that they have ribonucleotides as unity . Ribonucleotides, meanwhile, are nucleotides with ribose as constituent sugar.
In short, ribose is a polyalcohol, monosaccharide and aldopentose which is present in the biopolymers called ribonucleic acids . This last denomination, in fact, is linked to ribose itself (that is, ribonucleic acids are given that name by the presence of ribose).
Ribose, being present in RNA, is part of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and is essential for the development of the metabolism process that allows the production of adenosine triphosphate or ATP , a vital energy source for cells .
It should be noted that ribose, in some cases, is prescribed as supplement . The people With cardiac problems, they may have a low level of ATP: therefore, the consumption of ribose in capsules, powder or liquid helps to improve this level and to recover the cardiac function. Excessive consumption of ribose supplements, however, can have certain side effects, such as stomach upset.
Some ribose formulas are indicated especially for people who regularly do sports, as it provides them with Energy necessary to make a difference in the most decisive moments. It is recommended to consume products indicated by a professional, and always prioritize those containing pure ribose and no excipient (inert substance that gives form, consistency or taste to a medicine, among other properties that make its use and dosage easier).
The ribose distributed in this way should be dissolved in water and its taste is very pleasant. Since it is a widely consumed complement in the field of Athletics , there are several products that fit the needs and activity level of each.
It is known as ribose-5-phosphate to one of the products of the so-called Pentose phosphate pathway , as well as an intermediary of it. This metabolic path is also called pentoses phosphate shuttle and is closely linked to glycolysis, a metabolic pathway in which glucose is oxidized to generate ribose, which participates in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and nucleotides .
One of the phases of this route is called oxidative , and begins when NADPH is obtained from glucose-6-phosphate, by means of phosphorylation of free glucose. Throughout this phase, the enzyme called pentose-5-phosphate isomerase appears, which acts isomerizing ribulose-5-phosphate through an endiol intermediate, and transforms it into ribose-5-phosphate (this is possible because to turn the kety group into a tile). This reaction a component used for the biosynthesis of nucleotide, DNA and RNA cofactors arises, and also the transition to the next phase begins, the non oxidative.
The non-oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate shuttle only begins if the cell requires NADPH in greater quantity than ribose-5-phosphate, and here a sequence of reactions of great complexity takes place, which consists in the change of the sugars from C3 to C7 of pentoses with the aim of producing fructose-6-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, which can continue with glycolysis.
