Editing Deoxyribose (section)

==Structure==
Several isomers exist with the formula H−(C=O)−(CH<sub>2</sub>)−(CHOH)<sub>3</sub>−H, but in deoxyribose all the [[hydroxyl]] groups are on the same side in the [[Fischer projection]]. The term "2-deoxyribose" may refer to either of two [[enantiomer]]s: the biologically important {{sm|d}}-2-deoxyribose and to the rarely encountered mirror image [[L-Deoxyribose|{{sm|l}}-2-deoxyribose]].<ref name=moens>C Bernelot-Moens and B Demple (1989), ''Multiple DNA repair activities for 3′-deoxyribose fragments in Escherichia coli''. Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 17, issue 2, p. 587–600.</ref> {{sm|d}}-2-deoxyribose is a precursor to the [[nucleic acid]] [[DNA]]. 2-deoxyribose is an [[aldopentose]], that is, a monosaccharide with five [[carbon]] [[atom]]s and having an [[aldehyde]] [[functional group]].

In aqueous solution, deoxyribose primarily exists as a mixture of three structures: the linear form H−(C=O)−(CH<sub>2</sub>)−(CHOH)<sub>3</sub>−H and two ring forms, deoxyribofuranose ("C3′-endo"), with a five-membered ring, and deoxyribopyranose ("C2′-endo"), with a six-membered ring. The latter form is predominant (whereas the C3′-endo form is favored for ribose). 
[[Image:Deoxyribose forms.svg|thumb|center|400px|Chemical equilibrium of deoxyribose in solution]]