Adenosine
/əˈdɛnəˌsiːn/noun
A nucleoside composed of adenine joined to the sugar ribose, important in cellular energy transfer and signaling.
Did you know?Adenosine accumulates during waking activity and binds to brain receptors that promote sleepiness, which is why caffeine works largely by blocking its action.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀδήν (adḗn)
“Gland; the source of the scientific combining form aden-.”
19th Century
German/Greek
Adenin
“A nitrogenous base whose name was formed from Greek adḗn, “gland,” after its early association with glandular tissue.”
Late 19th Century
English scientific usage
adenine
“The standardized English form for the purine base later recognized as a component of nucleic acids.”
Early 20th Century
Biochemistry
adenosine
“A nucleoside formed from adenine and the five-carbon sugar ribose.”
Modern English
English
adenosine
“A cellular signaling molecule involved in energy metabolism, neurotransmission, blood-flow regulation, and sleep pressure.”