Escherichia coli can utilize the monosaccharide D-ribose as the sole source of carbon and energy for the cell. A high-affinity ABC transport system transports D-ribose into the cell as unphosphorylated beta-D-ribopyranose. Ribose pyranase converts between the furanose and pyranose forms of beta-D-ribose. D-ribofuranose converts between the alpha and beta anomers quickly and spontaneously. Ribokinase converts D-ribose to the pentose phosphate pathway intermediate, D-ribose 5-phosphate, which can enter the central metabolism pathways to meet the cells needs.

Ribose Degradation References