Purine de novo synthesis represents a basis for nucleotide metabolism as well as all other interconnected pathways. Synthesis of the purine ring de novo is required especially when DNA is replicated so that, although present in most tissues, the activity of the metabolic pathway is highly variable. Since the key experiments to discover functioning of the pathway were conducted in the fifties, it attracts substantial attention of researchers because inhibitors of the pathway are effective drugs against cancer, inflammatory disorders and various infections. There is substantial body of information on genes, proteins involved and regulation, however some questions concerning substrate channeling and interaction of the proteins remain open.

        Key words: purine, de novo, biosynthesis, metabolism, cancer, inhibitor.