noun
- Plural of purine; organic compounds that are components of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and include adenine and guanine.
Usage: technical; biochemistry
Examples
- Purines are one of the two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids.
- Adenine and guanine are examples of purines.
- The structure of purines consists of a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring.
- Purines pair with pyrimidines in the DNA double helix.
- Foods high in purines include red meat, organ meats, and certain seafood.