D-ribose is an aldopentose monosaccharide which is produced by fermentation using a transketolase-deficient strain of Bacillus subtilis.

A transformed microorganism capable of converting an aldopentose to a ketopentose at a higher rate than the equivalent microorganism prior to transformation.

2-deoxyribose is an aldopentose, that is, a monosaccharide with five carbon atoms and having an aldehyde functional group.

Lyxose is an aldopentose — a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, and including an aldehyde functional group.

For example, glucose is an aldohexose (a six-carbon aldehyde), ribose is an aldopentose (a five-carbon aldehyde), and fructose is a ketohexose (a six-carbon ketone).