ALLOXANTHINE Meaning and
Definition
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Alloxanthine is a chemical compound that belongs to the group of xanthine derivatives. It is typically produced during the breakdown of the purine molecule, guanine, in the body. Alloxanthine is a metabolic product formed through enzymatic action involving the conversion of guanine to xanthine and further to uric acid.
In more technical terms, alloxanthine can be described as a white crystalline substance that is derived from xanthine through enzymatic transformation by xanthine oxidase. It has a molecular formula of C5H4N4O2. Alloxanthine is structurally similar to xanthine and uric acid, sharing a purine core structure.
The presence of alloxanthine is of particular interest due to its role in the metabolism of purine compounds in living organisms. It has been observed that alloxanthine can inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of hypoxanthine to xanthine and further to uric acid. This inhibition leads to reduced formation of uric acid, making alloxanthine a potential therapeutic target for conditions associated with high uric acid levels, such as gout.
Furthermore, alloxanthine has been used experimentally as a research tool to investigate the mechanisms involved in xanthine oxidase inhibition and its potential impact on purine metabolism. Its chemical properties and metabolic activities make alloxanthine an important compound within the field of biochemistry and pharmacology.
Common Misspellings for ALLOXANTHINE
- zlloxanthine
- slloxanthine
- wlloxanthine
- qlloxanthine
- akloxanthine
- aploxanthine
- aoloxanthine
- alkoxanthine
- alpoxanthine
- alooxanthine
- allixanthine
- allkxanthine
- alllxanthine
- allpxanthine
- all0xanthine
- all9xanthine
- allozanthine
- allocanthine
- allodanthine
- allosanthine
Etymology of ALLOXANTHINE
The word "Alloxanthine" is derived from two components: "allo-" and "xanthine".
The prefix "allo-" is derived from Greek and means "other" or "different". It is often used in scientific and medical terminology to denote something that is not the usual or normal form.
The second component, "xanthine", comes from the Greek word "xanthos", meaning "yellow". It refers to a group of crystalline alkaloids that are derived from purine, a compound found in plants and animals. Xanthine compounds are often associated with yellow or yellowish-colored substances.
When combined, "alloxanthine" refers to a compound that is chemically related to xanthine but different in some aspects. It is a term used in biochemistry to refer to certain derivatives or analogs of xanthine.
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