Biomaterial Database

Studies on the mechanism of action of 6-mercaptopurine. Interaction with copper and xanthine oxidase. 1981

U Kela, and R Vijayvargiya

Interaction between 6-mercaptopurine, Cu2+ and the enzyme xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2.) was examined. Whereas Cu2+ was found to inhibit the enzyme, 6-mercaptopurine could protect as well as reverse the enzyme inhibition produced by the metal ion. The formation of a complex between 6-mercaptopurine and Cu2+ seems to be responsible for the observed effect. Job's [(1928) Ann. Chem. 9, 113] method has shown the composition of the complex to be 1:1. The apparent stability constant (log K value), as determined by Subhrama Rao & Raghav Rao's [(1955) J. Sci. Chem. Ind. Res. 143, 278], method is found to be 6.74. It is suggested that the formation of a stable complex between 6-mercaptopurine molecules and Cu2+ may be an additional mechanism of action of 6-mercaptopurine, particularly with reference to its anti-inflammatory properties.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D013053	Spectrophotometry	The art or process of comparing photometrically the relative intensities of the light in different parts of the spectrum.
D014969	Xanthine Oxidase	An iron-molybdenum flavoprotein containing FLAVIN-ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE that oxidizes hypoxanthine, some other purines and pterins, and aldehydes. Deficiency of the enzyme, an autosomal recessive trait, causes xanthinuria.	Hypoxanthine Oxidase,Hypoxanthine Dehydrogenase,Hypoxanthine-Xanthine Oxidase,Purine-Xanthine Oxidase,Dehydrogenase, Hypoxanthine,Hypoxanthine Xanthine Oxidase,Oxidase, Hypoxanthine,Oxidase, Hypoxanthine-Xanthine,Oxidase, Purine-Xanthine,Oxidase, Xanthine,Purine Xanthine Oxidase
D015122	Mercaptopurine	An antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties. It interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism and is used, usually in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of or in remission maintenance programs for leukemia.	6-Mercaptopurine,1,7-Dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione,6-Mercaptopurine Monohydrate,6-Thiohypoxanthine,6-Thiopurine,6H-Purine-6-thione, 1,7-dihydro-,BW 57-323H,Leupurin,Mecaptopurine Anhydrous,Mercaptopurina Wellcome,Puri-Nethol,Purimethol,Purinethol,6 Mercaptopurine,6 Mercaptopurine Monohydrate,6 Thiohypoxanthine,6 Thiopurine,BW 57 323H,BW 57323H
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular