Deoxycytidine is a deoxyribonucleoside, a component of deoxyribonucleic acid. It is similar to the

ribonucleoside A ribonucleoside is a type of nucleoside including ribose as a component. One example of a ribonucleoside is cytidine Cytidine (symbol C or Cyd) is a nucleoside molecule that is formed when cytosine is attached to a ribose ring (also known as ...

cytidine Cytidine (symbol C or Cyd) is a nucleoside molecule that is formed when cytosine is attached to a ribose ring (also known as a ribofuranose) via a β-N1- glycosidic bond. Cytidine is a component of RNA. It is a white water-soluble solid. which ...

, but with one

hydroxyl In chemistry, a hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydrox ...

group removed from the C2' position. Deoxycytidine can be phosphorylated at C5' of the deoxyribose by

deoxycytidine kinase Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is an enzyme which is encoded by the ''DCK'' gene in humans. dCK predominantly phosphorylates deoxycytidine (dC) and converts dC into deoxycytidine monophosphate. dCK catalyzes one of the initial steps in the nucleos ...

, converting it to deoxycytidine monophosphate (dCMP), a DNA precursor. dCMP can be converted to dUMP and dTMP. It can also be used as a precursor for

5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine Decitabine, sold under the brand name Dacogen among others, acts as a nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor. It is a medication for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, a class of conditions where certain blood cells are dysfunctional, and for ...

, a treatment for MDS patients. This compound slows the cell cycle by interfering with the

methylation In the chemical sciences, methylation denotes the addition of a methyl group on a substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replacing a hydrogen atom. These ...

of the P15/INK4B gene, increasing the expression of P15/INK4B protein which subdues the transformation of MDS to

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

References

Nucleosides Pyrimidones Hydroxymethyl compounds {{Biochem-stub