Adenine vs Adenosine – Difference and Comparison

What is Adenine? 

Adenine is a basic functional molecule that produces complex compounds like adenosine and its phosphate derivatives when conjugated with other functional groups. These complex compounds are involved in a variety of cellular functions. Both of these substances are required for an organism’s physiological functions to work properly.

Adenine is also one of the two purine bases used to form nucleotides in nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. Adenine (A) binds to thymine (T) in DNA to help keep nucleic acid structures stable. In RNA, adenine binds to uracil (U). The other three nucleobases that make up the structure of nucleic acid are guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Its chemical formula is C5H5N5 and its molar mass is 135.13 g/mol.

What is Adenosine?

Adenosine is a naturally occurring nucleoside that can be found in various forms in all of the body’s cells. It is used to treat cardiac rhythms that are unfast. In Adenosine, an extra amino group at the 6th carbon is visible. It is the key component of a variety of coenzymes. It forms a nucleoside, adenosine by conjugating and bonding with a pentose, sugar molecule.

A nucleoside is a chemical with a nucleobase glycosidically linked to a sugar molecule. Ribose is the sugar moiety in adenosine. C10H13N5O4 is its chemical formula. This substance is a purine nucleoside, which means it has an adenine molecule connected to a ribose sugar molecule in its structure. It’s also a prescription medicine that’s used to detect blockages in the heart’s arteries. 

Adenosine, AMP, and ATP are also used as supplements for sports performance, cold sores, and various other ailments, but there is no scientific proof to back up these claims. An injectable version of adenosine is a prescription medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for a condition characterized by a rapid heart rate. It’s also a prescription medicine that’s used to detect blockages in the heart’s arteries.

Difference Between Adenine and Adenosine 

  1. Adenine is a basic functional molecule that produces complex compounds like adenosine and its phosphate derivatives when conjugated with other functional groups. While Adenosine is a naturally occurring nucleoside that can be easily found in a variety of forms in all of the body’s cells.
  2. Adenine mainly comes in a variety of tautomer forms. While Adenosine is made up of two sugar molecules named: adenine and ribose.
  3. The molecular mass of adenine is 135.13 g/mol. Adenosine, on the other hand, has a molecular mass of 267.24 g/mol.
  4. Adenine is required for the formation of nucleic acid. While Adenosine is a drug that is used for treating irregular heartbeats. Also, it can be used as a supplement to thallium and other elements.
  5. Adenine’s chemical formula is C5H5N5. Adenosine, on the other hand, has the molecular formula C10H13N5O4.

Comparison Between Adenine and Adenosine 

Parameters of ComparisonAdenineAdenosine
DefinitionThe nucleobase is the building block of DNA. The nucleobase adenine is a purine nucleobase.Adenosine, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring nucleoside found in a variety of forms in all of the body’s cells.
StructureAdenine is available in a number of tautomer forms.On the other hand, Adenosine is made up of two sugar molecules: adenine and ribose.
UsesAdenine is frequently necessary for nucleic acid synthesis.Adenosine, on the other hand, is a medication that is used to treat irregular heartbeats. It can also be used as thallium and other element supplements.
Molecular WeightThe molecular mass of Adenine is135.13 g/mol.Adenosine, on the other hand, has a molecular mass of 267.24 g/mol
Formulas for ChemicalsAdenine’s chemical formula is C5H5N5.Adenosine, on the other hand, has the chemical formula C10H13N5O4.

References

  1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp903126f
  2. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2013/cp/c3cp51057c
  3. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/01.res.29.4.375