Adenylic acid is a compound found in DNA and RNA. Its spelling reflects the pronunciation of its name, which is transcribed in IPA as /ˌaːdɪˈnɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/. The first syllable is pronounced with a long "a" sound, followed by a short "i" sound in the second syllable. The stress falls on the third from the last syllable, which is pronounced with a short "i" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with a hard "c" sound and a short "i" sound.
Adenylic acid, also known as adenylate or adenosine monophosphate (AMP), is a nucleotide that serves as a building block of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is composed of three components: a sugar molecule called ribose, a nitrogenous base known as adenine, and a single phosphate group.
Adenylic acid is crucial for various biochemical processes in living organisms. It plays a key role in energy metabolism as it participates in the transfer and storage of energy within cells. Adenylic acid acts as a substrate for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production through the process of phosphorylation, wherein the phosphate group is added to adenylic acid to form ATP. ATP is considered the energy currency of the cell, necessary for maintaining vital functions and enabling cellular processes like muscle contraction and nerve impulses.
Additionally, adenylic acid is involved in the regulation of enzymatic activity, acting as an allosteric effector for numerous enzymes. It participates in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, acting as a secondary messenger in various signal transduction pathways, including those related to cell growth, hormone regulation, and neurotransmitter action. cAMP binding to proteins promotes conformational changes that influence their activity.
Overall, adenylic acid is an essential molecule for the proper functioning of living organisms, serving as a foundation for genetic material, energy storage, and cellular signaling.
An acid obtained from the thymus gland.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Adenylic Acid" is derived from several sources. The term "adenylic" is derived from "adenine", which is one of the four nucleotides found in DNA and RNA. Adenine itself is derived from the German word "Adenin", which was coined by the German chemist Albrecht Kossel in 1885. Kossel named it after the organ in which he first discovered the compound – the pancreas (in Greek, aden means "gland").
The suffix "-yl" in "adenylic" indicates that it is a functional group derived from the parent compound, adenine.
The term "acid" refers to the class of compounds that can donate a proton (H+) or accept an electron pair in a chemical reaction. In this case, "acid" refers to the phosphate group present in adenylic acid.