Hypoxanthine

• 6- hydroxypurine
• 1,7- dihydro -6H -purin- 6-one
• Purin-6 (1H )-one

Colorless crystals

Fixed

> 300 ° C

25 g · l-1 in 1 M sodium hydroxide solution

750 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, ip)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Hypoxanthine is a naturally occurring purine derivative and formed by the action of xanthine oxidase on xanthine although the Purinabbau normally runs that hypoxanthine is oxidized to xanthine by xanthine oxidase. Very rare hypoxanthine forms the backbone of nucleic acids. It is in the anticodon of the tRNA present in the form of the nucleoside inosine.

Occurrence

Hypoxanthine is for example in the urine in free form as well as bound to nucleosides before.

Properties

The hypoxanthine molecule comprises a plurality of tautomers, in equilibrium with each other:

From hypoxanthine the nucleoside inosine and the nucleotide inosine monophosphate derived.

Biological Significance

Hypoxanthine provides for some microorganisms growth factor dar. It also contributes to the coloration of fish at ( see fish silver). Within the enclosure of fish swim bladders dense layers of hypoxanthine crystallites reduce their gas permeability. The oxidized at the 3-position hypoxanthine is the shock substance of the Cypriniformes.