From the FDA Drug Label
Allopurinol acts on purine catabolism, without disrupting the biosynthesis of purines. Allopurinol is a structural analogue of the natural purine base, hypoxanthine As a result of xanthine oxidase inhibition, the serum concentration of hypoxanthine plus xanthine in patients receiving allopurinol tablets for treatment of hyperuricemia is usually in the range of 0.3 to 0.4 mg/dL compared to a normal level of approximately 0.15 mg/dL. A purine is a type of base found in nucleic acids, with examples including hypoxanthine and xanthine 1.
From the Research
Purines are organic compounds that play a crucial role in the structure of DNA and RNA, as well as in energy metabolism, and their breakdown leads to the formation of uric acid as a waste product. Purines are one of the two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids, the other being pyrimidines. Specifically, adenine and guanine are the two main purines in our genetic material, as noted in a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2. Purines are also important in energy metabolism, with ATP (adenosine triphosphate) being a purine-containing molecule that serves as the primary energy currency in cells. Our bodies can either synthesize purines or obtain them from dietary sources such as organ meats, seafood, and certain vegetables. When purines break down, they form uric acid as a waste product, which can lead to health issues like gout and kidney stones in some individuals if levels become too high, as discussed in a study published in Cell Chemical Biology 3. Understanding purine metabolism is important for managing conditions related to uric acid overproduction or impaired excretion, and recent research has explored the potential of engineered gut bacteria to enhance purine degradation in the gut microbiome, as reported in a 2023 study published in Cell Chemical Biology 3. Key aspects of purine metabolism include:
- The role of purines in DNA and RNA structure
- The importance of purines in energy metabolism
- The breakdown of purines to form uric acid
- The potential health issues associated with excessive uric acid levels
- The potential for engineered gut bacteria to enhance purine degradation in the gut microbiome, as discussed in a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2 and Cell Chemical Biology 3.