[Purine metabolism of the human erythrocyte]

Purine metabolism has been much investigated in human erythrocytes, both for the interest focused on this peculiar cell biochemistry, and four purine pathological implications in man. Most mammalian red blood cells lack de novo purine synthesis, and are completely dependent on base salvage pathway for their purine nucleotide requirement. Besides, human erythrocyte is devoid of some purine interconversion enzymes, thus becoming dependent on external supply of bases and nucleosides, particularly the adenylic ones. Red blood cell purine metabolism is very active, owing to its great need for nucleotides, and seems to aim greatly at the preservation of synthesized nucleotides against catabolic events. Available data on purine enzyme kinetic parameters and regulation, substrate and product cellular concentration and uptake are reviewed.