Human Biochemistry, Volume 2 - Murray R. 1993

Structure, Function, and Replication of Information Macromolecules
Nucleotides
Biomedical Significance

Heterocyclic bases (Purines and Pyrimidines) serve as the fundamental Building Blocks of nucleoside and nucleotide molecules. NUCLEOTIDES are present in all living Cells without exception, performing a wide range of critical Functions. These include building Nucleic Acids from ribose- and deoxyribosynucleoside monophosphate units (RNA and DNA, respectively); energy transfer (ATP); formation of Coenzymes (AMP); acting as acceptors in Oxidative Phosphorylation (ADP); as well as functioning as Allosteric regulators of various enzyme activities and as "second messengers" (cAMP and cGMP). Synthetic analogues of natural nucleotides, capable of replacing them in nucleic acid structures and inhibiting RNA and DNA Synthesis, are widely used in Cancer Chemotherapy. To suppress the growth of tumor cells or specific Viruses, agents such as 5-fluorouracil, 5'-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine, 6-thioguanine, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-azauridine, and arabinosylcytosine are employed. Allopurinol, a purine analogue, is highly effective in the Treatment of Gout.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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