Purine metabolism refers to the biochemical processes that break down and synthesize purines, which are essential nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA. The primary purines are adenine and guanine. These compounds are produced from simpler molecules and can be recycled or degraded into uric acid, which is excreted from the body. The metabolism of purines involves several key enzymes and pathways, including the de novo synthesis pathway and the salvage pathway. In the de novo pathway, purines are synthesized from basic building blocks, while the salvage pathway recycles purines from degraded nucleotides. Proper regulation of purine metabolism is crucial for maintaining cellular function and energy balance.