Phosphate sugars are a type of sugar molecule that has a phosphate group attached to it. These sugars play a crucial role in cellular processes, particularly in the formation of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. The presence of the phosphate group helps in energy transfer and storage within cells, making them essential for metabolism. One common example of phosphate sugars is ribose, which is a key component of RNA. Another example is deoxyribose, found in DNA. These sugars are vital for various biochemical reactions, including those involved in energy production and genetic information transfer.