Hypoxanthine + PRPP → IMP + Pyrophosphate

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase EC 2.4.2.8

Picks up a base that already exists, from a broken-down nucleotide, and attaches it again to an activated ribose. A single step versus the eleven it takes to make it from scratch.

irreversible
Cytosol

in depth

ΔG°′: not documented
Location: Cytosol

Fun fact

Its complete absence causes Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Without it the bases are not recycled, they are broken down to uric acid and build up; and for reasons that are still not fully understood, the main damage is not to the joints but neurological.

Nelson, D. L. & Cox, M. M. (2021). Lehninger. Principios de bioquímica, 8.ª ed., ch. 22

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Overview Pathways Minigames

Salvage pathwayHypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase

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