Thymidine

Description

Thymidine is a pyrimidine nucleoside that is composed of the pyrimidine base thymine attached to the sugar deoxyribose. As a constituent of DNA, thymidine pairs with adenine in the DNA double helix. In cell biology it is used to synchronize the cells in G₁/early S phase.

Chemical properties

White needle crystal, soluble in methanol, ethanol, DMSO and other organic solvents.

Physical properties

Thymidine can exist in vitro conditions as a solid (as white crystals or as white crystalline powder). Under standard temperature and pressure, the stability of this compound is very high. As a part of DNA structure, thymidine occurs in living organisms (also in DNA viruses). Therefore, it is a non-toxic compound. In RNA, there is uridine instead of thymidine. Uridine is formed from the combination of uracil with ribose sugar. The key difference between thymine and thymidine is that thymine is a nucleobase, whereas thymidine is a nucleoside.

The Uses of Thymidine

Thymidine is used in the syntheses of active pharmaceutical ingredient such as zidovudine. It also pairs with deoxyadenosine in double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid. It is used to synchronize the cells in G1/early S phase in cell biology.

The Uses of Thymidine

Constituent of deoxyribonucleic acid. The nucleoside (deoxyriboside) of thymine. Occurs in DNA. It is a nucleoside consisting of one thymine molecule linked to ad-doxyribose sugar molecule.

What are the applications of Application

Thymidine is a pyrimidine deoxynucleoside

Definition

ChEBI: Thymidine is a pyrimidine 2'-deoxyribonucleoside having thymine as the nucleobase. It has a role as a metabolite, a human metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is functionally related to a thymine. It is an enantiomer of a telbivudine.

Definition

The NUCLEOSIDE formed when thymine is linked to D-ribose by a β-glycosidic bond.

General Description

Thymidine is also referred to as pyrimidine deoxynucleoside. Deoxythymidine is a nucleoside present in DNA. In a DNA double stranded structure, thymidine pairs with deoxyadeninosine.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Thymidine is useful in cell synchronization during S-phase. In the salvage pathway of pyrimidines, pyrimidine phosphorylase reversibly converts thymine to thymidine.

Mechanism of action

High concentrations of thymidine interrupt the deoxynucleotide metabolism pathway through competitive inhibition, thus blocking DNA replication. A single treatment with thymidine arrests cells throughout S phase, so a double treatment acts to induce a more uniform block in early S phase.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by intraperitoneal route. An experimental teratogen. Experimental reproductive effects. Human mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.

Purification Methods

Crystallise -thymidine from ethyl acetate, MeOH/Et2O (m 188o) or H2O (as 2H2O m 189o). It is soluble in water and hot organic solvents. The picrate has m 230o (from EtOH).