Nucleoside analog
Nucleoside Analog
A Nucleoside Analog (pronounced: noo-klee-oh-side an-uh-log) is a type of antiviral or anticancer drug that is structurally similar to naturally occurring nucleosides.
Etymology
The term "Nucleoside Analog" is derived from the words "nucleoside", which refers to the structural subunit of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, and "analog", which in pharmacology refers to a compound that is structurally similar to another but differs slightly in composition.
Definition
Nucleoside Analogs are chemically synthesized molecules that mimic the structure of nucleosides. They are incorporated into the growing DNA or RNA chains during replication and cause premature termination of these chains, thereby inhibiting the replication of viruses or cancer cells.
Related Terms
- Nucleotide Analog: A compound structurally similar to a nucleotide, which can be incorporated into DNA or RNA and cause chain termination.
- Antiviral Drug: A type of medication used specifically for treating viral infections.
- Anticancer Drug: A type of medication used specifically for treating cancer.
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information in all living organisms.
- RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a molecule involved in various biological roles including coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.
Examples
Some examples of Nucleoside Analogs include Zidovudine (AZT), used in the treatment of HIV, and Cytarabine, used in the treatment of certain types of cancer.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nucleoside analog
- Wikipedia's article - Nucleoside analog
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