Purine (Noun)
Meaning 1
Any of several bases that are derivatives of purine.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 2
A colorless crystalline organic base containing nitrogen; the parent compound of various biologically important substances.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Adenine is a purine that is a key component of nucleic acids and plays a central role in energy transfer reactions.
- Purine was first isolated from urine in the 19th century and its name is derived from this origin.
- Uric acid is a breakdown product of purine metabolism that can accumulate in the blood and cause gout.
- Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that is a methylated derivative of purine.
- In some cases, high levels of purine in the diet can exacerbate gout and other health problems.