adenine

/ad"n in, -een', -uyn'/, n.

Biochem. a purine base, C₅H₅N₅, one of the fundamental components of nucleic acids, as DNA, in which it forms a base pair with thymine, and RNA, in which it pairs with uracil. Symbol: A

[1880-85; < G Adenin; see ADEN-, -INE²]

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Organic compound of the purine family, often called a base, consisting of two rings, each containing both nitrogen and carbon atoms, and an amino group.

It occurs free in tea and in combined form in nucleic acids, ATP, vitamin B₁₂, and several coenzymes. In DNA its complementary base is thymine. It or its corresponding nucleoside or nucleotide may be prepared from nucleic acids by selective techniques of hydrolysis.

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▪ chemical compound

      organic compound belonging to the purine family, occurring free in tea or combined in many substances of biological importance, including the nucleic acids (nucleic acid), which govern hereditary characteristics of all cells.

      Partial decomposition of ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids yields mixtures from which the compounds adenylic acid and deoxyadenylic acid, respectively, may be separated. These acids, called nucleotides (nucleotide), are phosphate esters of adenosine and deoxyadenosine, which are smaller units (nucleosides) composed of adenine and either ribose or deoxyribose. Compounds of adenine include vitamin B₁₂ as well as adenosine triphosphate and other coenzymes (substances that act in conjunction with enzymes).

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