What is Adenine?

Adenine is one of the nucleobases present in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), the genetic information stored within organisms. It is a substance often studied in biochemistry because of its many important roles in the bodies of organisms. It has the chemical formula C₅H₅N₅. It is a purine, meaning that it is a kind of organic compound that is composed of carbon and nitrogen atoms arranged in the form of two rings.

DNA and RNA are extraordinarily important nucleic acids because they contain the genetic information used for the growth, repair, development, and reproduction of all organisms. They are each made up of four nucleobases: DNA is composed of adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine; RNA is composed of the same, but with uracil instead of thymine. The arrangements of these nucleobases determine the exact nature of the genetic code contained in the DNA or RNA. Adenine is one of these nucleobases, so it is of the utmost importance to the genetic structure of all living organisms.

In DNA, adenine bonds only to thymine. It does so with two strong hydrogen bonds, so the bond is difficult to break and the code is difficult to damage. In RNA, adenine bonds with uracil; the particular kinds of reactions that RNA is involved in favor uracil to thymine. In both cases, the particular arrangement of nucleobases determines the genetic properties of the nucleic acid.

It was initially thought that Adenine was actually vitamin B₄. It is not considered to be a direct part of the B vitamin family anymore, though some B vitamins do bind with it with varying effects. This is most notably true of niacin and riboflavin, which bind with it to form cofactors, which are required for some proteins to function properly.

Adenine is not exclusively found in nucleic acids; many different substances, such as some blends of tea, actually contain the nucleobase. It can also form a variety of compounds that are very common in nature and in some foods and drinks. Cobalamim, more commonly referred to as vitamin B₁₂, is actually a compound of adenine 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 a major energy source that is derived from cellular respiration. Glucose is broken down into ATP, which is a very significant energy-containing molecule used by a vast variety of organisms.