Nucleotide Metabolism

Flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to nucleotide metabolism.

Nucleotide

A molecule consisting of a nitrogenous base, ribose sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.

Purines

Nitrogenous bases that consist of adenine and guanine, important for DNA and RNA synthesis.

Pyrimidines

Nitrogenous bases that include cytosine, uracil, and thymine, essential for DNA and RNA.

De Novo Synthesis

The process of synthesizing nucleotides from scratch, using basic metabolic precursors.

Salvage Pathways

Pathways that recycle purines and pyrimidines, allowing cells to reuse bases to form nucleotides.

PRPP (5-Phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate)

An activated form of ribose that is a precursor in purine and pyrimidine synthesis.

Inosine Monophosphate (IMP)

The initial product of de novo purine synthesis, from which AMP and GMP are derived.

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome

A genetic disorder caused by deficiency of HGPRT, leading to excessive uric acid and behavioral issues.

Gout

A disorder characterized by high uric acid levels, leading to joint pain and inflammation.

Carbamoyl Phosphate

An essential compound in the first step of pyrimidine synthesis, produced from glutamine and CO2.

UMP (Uridine Monophosphate)

The initial nucleotide produced in the de novo synthesis of pyrimidines.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT)

Enzyme involved in the salvage pathway of adenine, converting it back to AMP.

Thymidylate Synthase

An enzyme responsible for converting dUMP to dTMP, using tetrahydrofolate derivatives.

Ribonucleotide Reductase

An enzyme that reduces ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides for DNA synthesis.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism where the end product of a pathway inhibits an upstream process to maintain balance.