In biochemistry, a
ribonucleotide or
ribotide is a
nucleotide containing
ribose as its
pentose component. It is considered a molecular precursor of
nucleic acids. Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of
DNA and
RNA. The
monomer itself from ribonucleotides forms the basic building blocks for RNA. However, the reduction of ribonucleotide, by enzyme
ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), forms deoxyribonucleotide, which is the essential building block for DNA. There are several differences between DNA deoxyribonucleotides and RNA ribonucleotides. Successive nucleotides are linked together via phosphodiester bonds by 3'-5'.