Term loosely used for any of the compounds containing pteridine; specifically, 2-amino-4-hydroxypteridine. Some pteridines ( e.g., xanthopterin, leucopterin) still retain the p. root.
- p. deaminase an aminohydrolase catalyzing hydrolytic deamination of 2-amino-4-hydroxypteridine to form 2,4-dihydroxypteridine and ammonia.
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pter·in 'ter-ən n any of various compounds that contain the bicyclic ring system characteristic of pteridine
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pter·in (terґin) [Gr. pteron wing] the 2-amino, 4-hydroxy derivative of pteridine; the term is also used to denote the class of compounds containing such a ring structure, such as tetrahydrobiopterin or folic acid. Pterins are so named because they were first identified in the wings of butterflies.Medical dictionary. 2011.