73.
A 42 year old male patient undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer develops severe pain in the metatarsal phalangeal joint of his right big toe. Monosodium urate crystals are detected by polarized light microscopy in fluid obtained from this joint. The patient’s pain is directly caused by the overproduction of the end product of which of the following metabolic pathways?
A:
Pyrimidine degradation
B:
De novo purine synthesis
C:
Purine salvage
D:
Purine degradation
The answer is:
D