Definition of "hypoxanthine" [hypoxanthine]

• A white powder, C5H4N4O, that is an intermediate in the metabolism of animal purines. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Production of a model for Lesch-Nyhan syndrome in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase-deficient mice."
• "In addition, a second chemical found in tea—a compound known as hypoxanthine—also appears to be a component of follicular fluid, the liquid that surrounds the egg and helps foster maturation and even fertilization."
• "The results also demonstrated that guanine, adenine and another building block called hypoxanthine could be produced at lower temperatures than previously reported."