[pyoo
r-een, -in] 
| 1. | a white, crystalline compound, C5H4N4, from which is derived a group of compounds including uric acid, xanthine, and caffeine. |
| 2. | one of several purine derivatives, esp. the bases adenine and guanine, which are fundamental constituents of nucleic acids. |
| pu·rine (pyŏŏr'ēn') n.
[German Purin : blend of Latin pūrus, clean; see pure, and New Latin ūricus, uric (from Greek ouron, urine) + -in, -in, -ine.] |
purine pu·rine (py&oobreve;r'ēn')
n.
A colorless crystalline organic base that is the parent compound of various biologically important derivatives.
Any of a group of organic compounds that are derived from or are structurally related to purine, including uric acid, caffeine, adenine, and guanine.
purine (py r'ēn') Pronunciation Key
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. |