Structure and Properties of pyrimidine bases

Pyrimidine bases

Structure of pyrimidine bases

Pyrimidine bases are derived from the parent compound pyrimidine.

The pyrimidine bases present in nucleotides are cytosine, uracil and thymine. It is 6 membered heterocyclic compound contains carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen atoms (Fig 7.1).

Properties of pyrimidine

·           Pyrimidine bases are soluble in water.

·           They absorb UV light at 260 nm. This property is used to detect and estimate pyrimidine nucleotides.

·           They are capable of forming hydrogen bonds with other purine bases

·           They exhibit keto-enol tautormerism.