Azathioprine, a prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) [
M0063], was developed by Elion and Hitchings as an immunosuppressant agent for renal transplantation in 1962. They shared the Nobel Prize in 1988. In cell, 6-MP is converted to 6-thioinosine monophosphate (TIMP), catalyzed by hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). TIMP inhibits conversion of inosinic acid to adenylosuccinic acid and xanthylic acid, subsequently leading to inhibition of purine ribonucleotides and DNA/RNA synthesis. Azathioprine and 6-MP are commonly used as an immunosuppressant for treatment of rheumatism, Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease. (The product is for research purpose only.)