mercaptopurine

English

Chemical structure of mercaptopurine

Alternative forms

6-mercaptopurine

Etymology

From mercapto- +‎ purine.

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /mɜːˌkap.tə(ʊ)ˈp(j)ʊə.ɹiːn/, /mɜːˌkap.tə(ʊ)ˈpjɔː.ɹiːn/
(General American) IPA^(key): /mɚˌkæp.təˈpjʊɹˌin/

Noun

mercaptopurine (countable and uncountable, plural mercaptopurines)

(pharmacology) An thiol antimetabolite C₅H₄N₄S that interferes especially with the metabolism of purine bases and the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and that is sometimes used in the treatment of acute leukemia.

References

“mercaptopurine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
“mercaptopurine”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

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