Question

Cells require one particular monosaccharide as a starting material to synthesize nucleotide building blocks. Which of the monosaccharides below fills this important role?

A) glucose
B) fructose
C) ribulose
D) ribose

Answer 1

Ribose is the monosaccharide that serves as a starting material for synthesizing nucleotide building blocks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The monosaccharide that serves as a starting material for synthesizing nucleotide building blocks is ribose.

While glucose, fructose, and ribulose are important monosaccharides, it is ribose that plays a key role in the synthesis of nucleotides. Ribose is a pentose sugar, meaning it has five carbon atoms, and it is found in RNA (ribonucleic acid).

When cells need to create nucleotide building blocks for processes like DNA replication and RNA synthesis, they start with ribose as the foundation.