title: Do adenine derivatives have a special role in biological regulation?
abstract: The hypothesis is raised "that adenine by way of its many derivatives plays an important role in regulating a wide variety of biological functions". Evidence is cited for such a role in cell-to-cell communication, intracellular regulation and interorganism communication. It is predicted that many more key biological functions will be found to be modulated by adenine derivatives and that adenine compounds which have not yet been studied in great depth will become recognized as biological regulators. The hypothesis also predicts that some disease states may be caused by perturbations of the adenine derivative-receptor system.
mesh_terms: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000502:physiology*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D008660:Metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000241:Adenosine