purine

views updated Jun 08 2018

purine A basic nitrogenous compound that resembles a 6-membered pyrimidine ring fused to a 5-membered imidazole ring. The 2 principal purines, adenine and guanine, are major constituents of nucleic acids.

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

purine

views updated May 29 2018

purine An organic nitrogenous base (see formula), sparingly soluble in water, that gives rise to a group of biologically important derivatives, notably adenine and guanine, which occur in nucleotides and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).

A Dictionary of Biology

purine

views updated Jun 08 2018

purine A basic, nitrogenous compound that resembles a six-membered pyrimidine ring fused to a five-membered imidazole ring. The two principal purines, adenine and guanine, are major constituents of nucleic acids.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

purine

views updated Jun 11 2018

purine A nitrogen base composed of two adjoining ring structures, one of which has five members and the other six. The purine bases in the nucleotides of nucleic acids are adenine and guanine.

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

purine

views updated Jun 11 2018

purine (pewr-reen) n. a nitrogenous compound with a two-ring molecular structure. Examples of purines are adenine and guanine, which occur in nucleic acids, and uric acid.

A Dictionary of Nursing