Nucleoside analogue
Nucleoside analogue
A Nucleoside analogue (pronounced: noo-klee-oh-side an-uh-log) is a type of antiviral or anticancer drug. The term is derived from the words 'nucleoside', which refers to a structural component of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, and 'analogue', which means a compound with a structure similar to that of another.
Etymology
The term 'nucleoside' is derived from 'nucleus', the central part of a cell, and 'side', from the Greek 'sidos', meaning 'a seat'. 'Analogue' comes from the Greek 'analogos', meaning 'proportional'.
Function
Nucleoside analogues work by mimicking the structure of normal nucleosides, the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Once incorporated into the growing DNA or RNA chain during replication, these analogues cause premature termination of the chain, thus inhibiting the replication of the virus or cancer cell.
Types
There are several types of nucleoside analogues, including:
- Cytarabine: Used to treat leukemia and lymphoma.
- Didanosine: Used in the treatment of HIV.
- Fludarabine: Used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- Gemcitabine: Used to treat various types of cancer, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer.
Side Effects
Like all drugs, nucleoside analogues can have side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. More serious side effects can include bone marrow suppression, which can lead to a decrease in the number of blood cells.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nucleoside analogue
- Wikipedia's article - Nucleoside analogue
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