purine
a white, crystalline compound, C5H4N4, from which is derived a group of compounds including uric acid, xanthine, and caffeine.
one of several purine derivatives, especially the bases adenine and guanine, which are fundamental constituents of nucleic acids.
Origin of purine
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British Dictionary definitions for purine
purin (ˈpjʊərɪn)
/ (ˈpjʊəriːn) /
a colourless crystalline solid that can be prepared from uric acid. Formula: C 5 H 4 N 4
Also called: purine base any of a number of nitrogenous bases, such as guanine and adenine, that are derivatives of purine and constituents of nucleic acids and certain coenzymes
Origin of purine
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for purine
[ pyur′ēn′ ]
Any of a group of organic compounds containing two fused rings of carbon and nitrogen atoms. One ring has six members, the other has five, and each has two nitrogens. Purines include a number of biologically important compounds, such as adenosine, caffeine, uric acid, and the two bases adenine and guanine, which are components of DNA and RNA.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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