Purines are double-ringed structures that make up a part of DNA. DNA has four nitrogenous bases--adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. The two purines are guanine and adenine. These bases are found in protein diets.
Function
Purines function as a part of the DNA structure. Purines are a nitrogenous base, which bond with other nitrogenous bases in the other DNA strand, which forms the double-helix structure.
Types
There are two types of purine nitrogenous bases. The two purines significant in biochemistry are adenine and guanine.
Structure
Purines are a two-ring structure. The two-ring structure makes them significantly different than the other two nitrogenous bases in DNA. Thymine and cytosine are the other two bases in DNA, and they only contain one ring.
Disease
Purines have been indicated in gout conditions. Gout is a painful arthritic condition in the joints. Purine levels have been indicated in the increase in pain of gout patients. Since purines are found in protein, patients are advised to lower protein intake to control gout conditions.
Synthesis
Purines can be synthesized in the laboratory for observation. Purines are formed from Formamide by heating the chemical to 170 degrees C for 28 hours.
