Adenine is a nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA, with a chemical formula of C5H5N5. It binds to thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA, determining genetic properties. Adenine is not a B vitamin, but some B vitamins bind to it. It is found in various substances and compounds, including vitamin B12 and ATP.
Adenine is one of the nitrogenous bases found in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), the genetic information stored within organisms. It is a substance often studied in biochemistry due to its many important roles in the bodies of organisms. It has the chemical formula C5H5N5. It is a purine, meaning it is a kind of organic compound composed of carbon and nitrogen atoms arranged in the form of two rings.
DNA and RNA are nucleic acids of extraordinary importance because they contain the genetic information used for the growth, repair, development and reproduction of all organisms. They each consist of four nitrogenous bases: DNA is composed of adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine; RNA is made from the same, but with uracil instead of thymine. The arrangements of these nitrogenous bases determine the exact nature of the genetic code contained in DNA or RNA. Adenine is one such nitrogenous base, so it is of utmost importance for the genetic structure of all living organisms.
In DNA, adenine binds only to thymine. It does this with two strong hydrogen bonds, so the bond is hard to break and the code is hard to damage. In RNA, adenine binds to uracil; the particular types of reactions that RNA is involved in favor uracil over thymine. In both cases, the particular arrangement of the nitrogenous bases determines the genetic properties of the nucleic acid.
It was originally thought that adenine was actually vitamin B4. It is no longer considered a direct part of the B vitamin family, although some B vitamins bind to it with varying effects. This is especially true for niacin and riboflavin, which bind to it to form cofactors, which are necessary for some proteins to function properly.
Adenine is not found exclusively in nucleic acids; many different substances, such as some tea blends, actually contain the nitrogenous base. It can also form a variety of compounds that are very common in nature and in some foods and beverages. Cobalamim, more commonly referred to as vitamin B12, is actually an adenine compound known for its energizing effects and is a natural antidepressant. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is another compound that contains adenine; it is known for its role as an important source of energy that derives from cellular respiration. Glucose is broken down into ATP, which is a very significant energy-containing molecule used by a wide variety of organisms.
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