Purine

Definition

Purine is a type of organic compound that consists of a two-ring nitrogenous base and plays a crucial role in the structure of DNA and RNA. It is one of the building blocks for nucleotides, which are the units forming DNA and RNA.

Related terms

Nucleotide: A molecule made up of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (which can be either a purine or pyrimidine), forming the basic structural unit of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.

Adenine: A type of purine base that pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA, playing a key role in coding genetic information.

Guanine: Another type of purine base that pairs with cytosine in both DNA and RNA, crucial for maintaining the structure and function of genetic material