mercaptopurine
View Patient InformationA thiopurine-derivative antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Produced through the metabolism of mercaptopurine by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), mercaptopurine metabolites 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thioGMP) and 6-thioinosine (T-IMP) inhibit nucleotide interconversions and de novo purine synthesis, thereby blocking the formation of purine nucleotides and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This agent is also incorporated into DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine, which results in the disruption of DNA replication. In addition, mercaptopurine is converted to 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MMPR) by 6-thiopurine methyltransferase; MMPRs are also potent inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis.
| Synonym: | 6 thiohypoxanthine 6 thiopurine 6-mercaptopurine 6-mercaptopurine monohydrate 6-purinethiol 6-thiopurine 6-thioxopurine Azathiopurine Leupurin Mercapurin Mern Purimethol |
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| US brand name: | Purinethol Purixan |
| Foreign brand name: | Alti-Mercaptopurine Flocofil Ismipur Leukerin Mercaleukim Mercaptina Puri-Nethol Purinethiol Xaluprine |
| Abbreviation: | 6-MP MP |
| Code name: | BW 57-323H U-4748 WR-2785 |
| Chemical structure: | 1,7 dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione monohydrate 1,7-Dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione 3H purine-6-thiol 6H-purine-6-thione, 1,7-dihydro- (9CI) 7-mercapto-1,3,4,6-tetrazaindene Mercapto-6-purine purine-6-thiol (8CI) purine-6-thiol Monohydrate purine-6-thiol, monohydrate |
| IND number: | 1226 24850 |
| NSC code: | 755 |