Names | |
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IUPAC name
2-Amino-6-(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-1H-pteridin-4-one
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Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.040.719 |
KEGG | |
MeSH | Biopterin |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
C9H11N5O3 | |
Molar mass | 237.216 g/mol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Biopterins are pterin derivatives which function as endogenous enzyme cofactors in many species of animals and in some bacteria and fungi. The prototypical compound of the class is biopterin (6-(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-pterin), as shown in the infobox. Biopterins act as cofactors for aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (AAAH), which are involved in synthesizing a number of neurotransmitters including dopamine, norepinephrine, epinepherine, and serotonin, along with several trace amines. Nitric oxide synthesis also uses biopterin derivatives as cofactors. In humans, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is the endogenous cofactor for AAAH enzymes.
As with pterins in general, biopterins exhibit tautomerism. In other words, there are a number of forms that readily interconvert, differing by the placement of hydrogen atoms. Depictions of the chemical structure may therefore vary among sources.[1]