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Adenine
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<p>Adenine (<a href="/facts/Nucleoside/G40crf0F">symbol</a> A or Ade) is a <a href="/facts/Purine/9ogLp0Wc">purine</a> <a href="/facts/Nucleotide_base/zj1Vl9Qh">nucleotide base</a>. It is one of the nucleobases in the <a href="/facts/Nucleic_acid/2tTgcI0v">nucleic acids</a>, <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> and <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a>. The shape of adenine is complementary to either <a href="/facts/Thymine/A5C8MnLN">thymine</a> in DNA or <a href="/facts/Uracil/KUAcYYpQ">uracil</a> in RNA. In cells adenine, as an independent molecule, is rare. It is almost always <a href="/facts/Covalent_bond/EzMLf3Pz">covalently bound</a> to become a part of a larger biomolecule. </p><p>Adenine has a central role in <a href="/facts/Cellular_respiration/kb6gpsvL">cellular respiration</a>. It is part of <a href="/facts/Adenosine_triphosphate/nB9bwgcU">adenosine triphosphate</a> which provides the <a href="/facts/Energy/wd8PrQM7">energy</a> that drives and supports most activities in living <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Protein_biosynthesis/P4IcGjPd">protein synthesis</a>, <a href="/facts/Chemical_synthesis/3KXsVVwC">chemical synthesis</a>, <a href="/facts/Muscle_contraction/EbloCYfV">muscle contraction</a>, and <a href="/facts/Nerve_impulse/Sz8yCRqx">nerve impulse</a> propagation. In respiration it also participates as part of the <a href="/facts/Cofactor_(biochemistry)/AGo0PCUU">cofactors</a> <a href="/facts/Nicotinamide_adenine_dinucleotide/BHdLW925">nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide</a>, <a href="/facts/Flavin_adenine_dinucleotide/uzADx3ES">flavin adenine dinucleotide</a>, and <a href="/facts/Coenzyme_A/loAfeGpx">Coenzyme A</a>. </p><p>It is also part of <a href="/facts/Adenosine/MwyTJ2wR">adenosine</a>, <a href="/facts/Adenosine_monophosphate/D9Ryfqad">adenosine monophosphate</a>, <a href="/facts/Cyclic_adenosine_monophosphate/flK2vwUe">cyclic adenosine monophosphate</a>, <a href="/facts/Adenosine_diphosphate/JEDnsCjn">adenosine diphosphate</a>, and <a href="/facts/S-adenosylmethionine/oAsJ0SSR">S-adenosylmethionine</a>. </p>