Purines vs. Pyrimidines
Key Differences
Comparison Chart
.
Bases
Chemical Structure
Function
Type
Molar Mass
Molecular Formula
Purines and Pyrimidines Definitions
Purines
Pyrimidines
Purines
Pyrimidines
Purines
Pyrimidines
What is Purines?
Purines are quite familiar organic compounds to the biology and genetic students and professionals as they are one of the most components of the production of RNA and DNA. Purines possess specific kind of nucleotide bases such as Guanine and Adenine. Purines themselves are the heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds. The structure of the compounds defines their working as well. In purines, two carbon-nitrogen rings are attached to four nitrogen atoms. Regarding food, purines are found in a massive amount of the meat and all the meat products. Purines are rarely present in the vegetables and plants. Although there is some specific kind of protein-based plants with a handsome amount of purines, most of the vegetables and plants are in low in purine. Inside the human body, purines are found mostly in liver and kidneys. They perform their specific kind of functions residing beside liver and kidneys. All sort of diet which includes a lot of proteins in it possess purines. Purines are nitrogenous bases in nature that help in the production of RNA and DNA. Other than this they are also responsible for starch production and even production of protein inside the body. Moreover, the purines do participate in cell signaling phenomena. They also keep on regulating enzymes functionality inside the body.
What is Pyrimidines?
Pyrimidines are also the same kind of heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds that take part in the formation and production of DNA and RNA inside the body of an organism. Pyrimidines differ from purines by their structure and the nucleotide bases they involve. Unlike the purines, pyrimidines have a single carbon-nitrogen ring that is attached or linked with the two nitrogen atoms. The three sort of nucleotide bases that are derivatives of pyrimidines includes Uracil, Thymine, and Cytosine. Pyrimidines are found and exist widely in nature. They are present in more excess compare to the purines presence in nature. Pyrimidines along with playing a vital role in RNA and DNA production takes part in the synthesis of starch and protein as well. Like purine, it also enables the enzyme regulation and also works as a facilitator in cell signaling process.
