Difference between revisions of "Adenine" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Adenine''' is one of the two [[purine]] [[nucleobase]]s used in forming [[nucleotide]]s of the nucleic acids [[DNA]] and [[RNA]]. In [[DNA]], adenine (A) | + | '''Adenine''' is one of the two [[purine]] [[nucleobase]]s used in forming [[nucleotide]]s of the nucleic acids [[DNA]] and [[RNA]]. In [[DNA]], the structure of adenine (A) allows it to bind to [[thymine]] (T) via two [[hydrogen bonds]] to assist in stabilizing the nucleic acid structures and the formation of the double helix. In [[RNA]], adenine binds to [[uracil]] (U). Adenine and thymine, together with cytosine and guanine, the two [[pyrimidine]] nucleobases, are the four “letters” that code for cellular synthesis of amino acids, the buildng blocks of proteins. |
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| + | In the human body adenine is synthesized in the liver. Biological systems tend to conserve energy, so usually adenine is obtained through the diet, the body degrading nucleic acid chains to obtain individual bases and reconstructing them through [[mitosis]]. The vitamin folic acid is essential for adenine synthesis. | ||
Adenine forms [[adenosine]], a [[nucleoside]], when attached to [[ribose]], and [[deoxyadenosine]] when attached to [[deoxyribose]]; it forms [[adenosine triphosphate]] (ATP), a [[nucleotide]], when three phosphate groups are added to [[adenosine]]. [[Adenosine triphosphate]] is used in cellular metabolism as one of the basic methods of transferring chemical energy between reactions. | Adenine forms [[adenosine]], a [[nucleoside]], when attached to [[ribose]], and [[deoxyadenosine]] when attached to [[deoxyribose]]; it forms [[adenosine triphosphate]] (ATP), a [[nucleotide]], when three phosphate groups are added to [[adenosine]]. [[Adenosine triphosphate]] is used in cellular metabolism as one of the basic methods of transferring chemical energy between reactions. | ||
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Some think that, at the [[origin of life]] on Earth, the first adenine was formed by the polymerizing of five [[hydrogen cyanide]] (HCN) molecules. | Some think that, at the [[origin of life]] on Earth, the first adenine was formed by the polymerizing of five [[hydrogen cyanide]] (HCN) molecules. | ||
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Revision as of 21:32, 16 January 2006
| Adenine | |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | 9H-Purin-6-amine |
| Alternate name | 6-aminopurine |
| Chemical formula | C5H5N5 |
| Molecular mass | 135.13 g/mol |
| Melting point | 360 - 365 °C |
| CAS number | 73-24-5 |
| SMILES | NC1=NC=NC2=C1N=CN2 |
| |
Adenine is one of the two purine nucleobases used in forming nucleotides of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. In DNA, the structure of adenine (A) allows it to bind to thymine (T) via two hydrogen bonds to assist in stabilizing the nucleic acid structures and the formation of the double helix. In RNA, adenine binds to uracil (U). Adenine and thymine, together with cytosine and guanine, the two pyrimidine nucleobases, are the four “letters” that code for cellular synthesis of amino acids, the buildng blocks of proteins.
In the human body adenine is synthesized in the liver. Biological systems tend to conserve energy, so usually adenine is obtained through the diet, the body degrading nucleic acid chains to obtain individual bases and reconstructing them through mitosis. The vitamin folic acid is essential for adenine synthesis.
Adenine forms adenosine, a nucleoside, when attached to ribose, and deoxyadenosine when attached to deoxyribose; it forms adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a nucleotide, when three phosphate groups are added to adenosine. Adenosine triphosphate is used in cellular metabolism as one of the basic methods of transferring chemical energy between reactions.
In older literature, adenine was sometimes called Vitamin B4. However it is no longer considered a true vitamin (see Vitamin B).
Some think that, at the origin of life on Earth, the first adenine was formed by the polymerizing of five hydrogen cyanide (HCN) molecules.
External link
| Nucleic acids edit |
|---|
| Nucleobases: Adenine - Thymine - Uracil - Guanine - Cytosine - Purine - Pyrimidine |
| Nucleosides: Adenosine - Uridine - Guanosine - Cytidine - Deoxyadenosine - Thymidine - Deoxyguanosine - Deoxycytidine |
| Nucleotides: AMP - UMP - GMP - CMP - ADP - UDP - GDP - CDP - ATP - UTP - GTP - CTP - cAMP - cGMP |
| Deoxynucleotides: dAMP - dTMP - dUMP - dGMP - dCMP - dADP - dTDP - dUDP - dGDP - dCDP - dATP - dTTP - dUTP - dGTP - dCTP |
| Nucleic acids: DNA - RNA - LNA - PNA - mRNA - ncRNA - miRNA - rRNA - siRNA - tRNA - mtDNA - Oligonucleotide |
| Vitamins |
|---|
| All B vitamins | All D vitamins |
| Retinol (A) | Thiamine (B1) | Riboflavin (B2) | Niacin (B3) | Pantothenic acid (B5) | Pyridoxine (B6) | Biotin (B7) | Folic acid (B9) | Cyanocobalamin (B12) | Ascorbic acid (C) | Ergocalciferol (D2) | Cholecalciferol (D3) | Tocopherol (E) | Naphthoquinone (K) |
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