Pyrimidine- Definition, Properties, Structure, Uses

Pyrimidine is a class of organic heterocyclic compounds containing 2 nitrogen atoms in their carbon ring. Pyrimidines are defined as polyunsaturated six-membered aromatic heterocyclic compounds containing two nitrogen atoms at the 1, 3 – position of the ring.

In the family of heterocyclic compounds, pyrimidine, and its derivatives are of great importance as structural subunits of nucleic acids, vitamins, hormones, antibiotics, and several other biological and artificial compounds.

The most known and well-studied pyrimidine derivatives are thymine, cytosine, and uracil; the pyrimidines found in nucleic acids as building blocks. In this article, we will focus on these three pyrimidines.

Table of Contents

General Structure of Pyrimidine Class

Pyrimidine is a cyclic organic compound with a ring of 6 atoms; four carbon atoms with attached hydrogen or side chain and 2 nitrogen atoms at -1, and -3 positions. The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) atoms are bonded by single and double bonds altering each other.

The N and C atoms are bonded with hydrogen or other functional groups to form different derivatives of pyrimidine.

Thymine

Thymine (abbreviated as T) is a pyrimidine nucleobase of DNA molecules, chemically linked with a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group. It binds with an adenine (A) of another strand of the DNA molecule. It is also called ‘5-methyluracil’ and is present in DNA only.

Structure of Thymine

The molecular formula of thymine is C₅H₆N₂O₂. It contains two N atoms at the -1 and -3 positions of the ring, each bonded with a hydrogen atom. In nucleic acids, the N atom at the 3- position forms a glycosidic bond with sugar (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA), resulting in the formation of thymidine. The C atom at the 5- position in nucleic acid is bonded with the methyl group. The carbon at the 2- and 4- positions are bonded with an oxygen atom. There is a double bond between carbon atoms at positions 5- and 6-.

Cytosine

Cytosine (abbreviated as C) is another pyrimidine nucleobase found in both DNA and RNA molecules. It is chemically linked with Guanine (G) of another strand of the DNA. In RNA molecules, it is bound to another nucleobase through phosphate linkage.

Structure of Cytosine

The molecular formula of cytosine is C₄H₅N₃O. It contains two N atoms at the -1 and -3 positions of the ring and one N atom in the amino group attached with C4 at the 4- position of the ring. In nucleic acids, the N atom at the 1- position forms a glycosidic bond with sugar (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA), resulting in the formation of cytidine. The carbon at the 2- position is bonded with an oxygen atom, and at the 5- position is bonded with a hydrogen atom. There is a double bond between carbon atoms at positions 5- and 6- and carbon at 4- position and N at 3- position.

Uracil

Uracil (abbreviated as U) is a pyrimidine nucleobase found in RNA molecules only. It is found instead of thymine in RNA. It is also chemically linked to the phosphate group and ribose sugar to form the RNA backbone.

Structure of Uracil

The molecular formula of uracil is C₄H₄N₂O₂. Its structure is similar to thymine, but the methyl group at the C atom at the 5- position is replaced by the hydrogen (H) atom.

Derivatives of Pyrimidine

Thymine
Uracil
Cytosine
Fluorouracil
Orotic Acid
Thiamine (Vitamin B₁)
Barbituric Acid
Veranal
Antifolate drugs (2-Amino-4-hydroxy pyrimidines)
Sulfa-drugs
Antibiotics like disubstituted and trisubstituted pyrimidine contain antibiotics like amicetin, plicacetin, etc.
Antivirals such as 5-iododeoxyuridine, 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine, 1-(3-Azido-2,3-dideoxypentofuranosyl)-5-methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione, etc.
Antifungal drugs like fluorinated pyrimidine called flucytosine, hexetidine, etc.

Uses of Pyrimidine

In Medicine

Pyrimidine derivatives are used as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal agents. Some examples of pyrimidine derivatives used as medicines are listed above.

A Pyrimidine analog, orotic acid, is used in metabolic therapy to prevent heart failure in cardiovascular patients.

As Nitrogen Bases of Nucleic Acids

Thymine, uracil, and cytosine are pyrimidine nitrogen bases of nucleic acids. They form the backbone of nucleic acids. They are also used to prepare nitrogen bases as elements for PCR artificially.

As Subunits For the Production of Vitamins, Toxins, Amino-acids and Other Biomolecules

Several proteins, amino acids, and vitamins contain pyrimidine as their sub-units. Different derivatives of pyrimidine are used in the synthesis of such molecules.

Health Effects of Pyrimidines

Pyrimidines and their derivatives are building blocks of nucleic acids, vitamins, amino acids, etc. Hence, they help in proper body physiology and development.
They provide vital nutrients.
Several derivatives of pyrimidine delays aging and boost immunity.
Several animal species use pyrimidine derivatives for toxin production.
Pyrimidine metabolism disorders may result in allergic reactions, encephalopathies, neonatal seizures, etc.

References

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