Adenosine
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside composed of the nitrogenous base adenine linked to a ribose sugar molecule via a β-N9-glycosidic bond.[1] As an endogenous molecule, it forms through the enzymatic breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency in cells, and exists in varying concentrations depending on metabolic activity and physiological conditions.[2] In biological systems, adenosine serves multifaceted roles beyond energy metabolism, acting as a key signaling molecule that modulates physiological processes through its interaction with four subtypes of G-protein-coupled receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) distributed across tissues such as the heart, brain, and immune cells.[3] These receptors mediate effects including vasodilation, inhibition of neurotransmitter release, suppression of inflammation, and regulation of cardiac rhythm, contributing to its cytoprotective functions during stress or ischemia.[4] Adenosine's rapid metabolism by enzymes like adenosine deaminase ensures tight spatiotemporal control of its levels, preventing excessive accumulation that could lead to adverse effects like bronchoconstriction.[5] Clinically, adenosine is employed as an antiarrhythmic agent for the acute termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) by transiently blocking atrioventricular nodal conduction, and it also aids in diagnostic procedures such as stress testing for coronary artery disease.[6] Emerging research explores its potential in broader therapeutic contexts, including neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory therapies, and modulation of immune responses in conditions like sepsis or autoimmune disorders, though challenges remain in developing selective receptor agonists or antagonists for targeted applications.[7]Chemistry
Molecular structure
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside composed of the adenine base linked to a ribose sugar, with the chemical formula C₁₀H₁₃N₅O₄ and a molecular weight of 267.24 g/mol.[1] The adenine base, known chemically as 6-aminopurine, is a fused-ring structure consisting of a pyrimidine and an imidazole ring, featuring an amino group at the 6-position. This base connects to the ribose sugar through a β-N-glycosidic bond at the N9 position of adenine and the anomeric C1' carbon of the sugar.[8][9] The ribose component adopts the beta-D-ribofuranose conformation, a five-membered furanose ring with hydroxyl groups at the 2', 3', and 5' positions, where the β configuration at C1' ensures the sugar is oriented above the plane of the ring relative to the glycosidic bond. This β-N9-glycosidic linkage is characteristic of purine nucleosides and distinguishes them from pyrimidine nucleosides, which bond at the N1 position. The overall structure can be represented as:This schematic highlights the adenine moiety on the left and the ribofuranose on the right, with the glycosidic bond bridging them; in detailed depictions, the ribose ring includes additional -OH groups at C2' and C3'.[10][11] In comparison to related nucleosides, adenosine differs from guanosine primarily in the base, where guanosine features guanine (2-amino-6-oxopurine) instead of adenine, introducing a keto group at the 6-position and an additional amino group at the 2-position. Similarly, inosine contains hypoxanthine (6-oxopurine) as its base, lacking the 6-amino group present in adenine and thus exhibiting a deaminated structure relative to both adenosine and guanosine. These base variations alter the hydrogen-bonding patterns without affecting the ribose attachment.[12][13]NH₂ | N---C / \ N C--N | / \ H--C C N--CH₂OH | | C--O--C (ribose ring)NH₂ | N---C / \ N C--N | / \ H--C C N--CH₂OH | | C--O--C (ribose ring)