purine

purine definition - medical

pu·rine (pyo͝orˈēnˌ)

noun
  1. A colorless crystalline organic base that is the parent compound of various biologically important derivatives.
  2. Any of a group of organic compounds that are derived from or are structurally related to purine, including uric acid, caffeine, adenine, and guanine.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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