Purine metabolism is the set of biochemical processes by which the body makes, recycles, and breaks down purines, the nitrogen-containing molecules that form part of the building blocks of DNA, RNA, and energy-carrying compounds such as ATP. Cells produce purines through synthesis from simpler precursors and reclaim…
Purine metabolism is the set of biochemical processes by which the body makes, recycles, and breaks down purines, the nitrogen-containing molecules that form part of the building blocks of DNA, RNA, and energy-carrying compounds such as ATP. Cells produce purines through synthesis from simpler precursors and reclaim them through salvage pathways, while excess purines are degraded in a stepwise process that, in humans and many mammals, ends in the production of uric acid, which is then excreted. Because purines are central to genetic material and cellular energy, their metabolism is tightly regulated, and disturbances can have significant consequences. When the balance between purine production, breakdown, and excretion is disrupted, uric acid can accumulate, leading to elevated blood levels known as hyperuricemia and conditions such as gout, while inherited enzyme defects can cause other metabolic disorders. Diet, particularly intake of purine-rich foods, as well as kidney function and certain medications, can influence purine handling and uric acid levels. Within mammalian biology and metabolism research, purine metabolism connects nucleic acid biochemistry, energy balance, and disorders of uric acid handling, including hyperuricemia. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to purine metabolism and related metabolic processes within the journal's scope.
3 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 3 articles above have been cited 2 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Purine Metabolism, linking to each citing work.