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PubMed1989

Pyrimidine scavenging by Mycobacterium leprae.

Mycobacterium leprae incorporated exogenously supplied pyrimidines as bases or nucleosides, but not as a nucleotide, into its nucleic acids. Notably, thymine was incorporated approximately 5 times more rapidly than thymidine by both suspensions of, or intracellular M. leprae. Thymine incorporation was significantly inhibited by clofazamine and dapsone at near-pharmacological levels. Therefore, incorporation of thymine is preferable as an activity for assessing viability of M. leprae. Nucleosides were converted to nucleotides through kinases, bases through phosphoribosyltransferases. Alternatively, thymine and uracil could first be converted to nucleosides. Cytosine and uracil bases were interconvertible, and uracil alone could supply all the pyrimidine requirements of M. leprae, though conversion to the thymine base was extremely slow. Overall, pyrimidine scavenging occurs at a slower rate than, and appears not to be so important as purine scavenging in M. leprae.

Biological Transport, Active↗

PubMed2002

Human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, PN-I.

Erythrocyte maturation is accompanied by RNA degradation and release of mononucleotides. Pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, PN-I, has been purified and characterized. The molecular and enzymatic properties determined for the enzyme shows a 36-kDa and 5.1 pI monomeric protein with no disulfide bridges and no phosphate content. The activity is dependent on Mg(2+), while it is inactivated by heavy metals and by thiol-reactive reagents. PN-I is specific for pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphates, including the antineoplastic agents 5'-AZTMP and 5'-Ara-CMP. PN-I possess phosphotransferase activity able to exchange phosphate between pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphates and pyrimidine nucleosides, including AZT and Ara-Cyd. Amino acid sequence has been obtained from tryptic and CNBr peptides. PN-I cDNA sequence, coding for a 286-residue protein, has been retrieved from tag database, amplified by PCR, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was fully active and showed identical properties with respect to PN-I. Substantial identity has been revealed with the partial sequences reported for p36, an alpha-interferon-induced protein. The significance of this identity is discussed.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

PubMed1999

Investigation of the Rotational Spectrum of Pyrimidine from 3 to 337 GHz: Molecular Structure, Nuclear Quadrupole Coupling, and Vibrational Satellites.

A comprehensive reinvestigation of the rotational spectrum of pyrimidine was carried out by using several different spectrometers. All singly substituted 13C- and 15N-isotopic species of pyrimidine have been measured in natural abundance with millimeter-wave free jet and waveguide Fourier transform microwave techniques, and complete rs and r0 heavy atom geometries have been determined. The ground state rotational spectrum in the centimeter-wave region was measured at sub-Doppler resolution of the cavity Fourier transform spectrometer and all elements in the inertial and principal nuclear quadrupole-coupling tensors of the nitrogen nuclei in pyrimidine have been determined. The room-temperature spectrum was measured up to 337 GHz and J = 66 with BWO-based spectrometers and sextic level centrifugal distortion constants in the rotational Hamiltonian have been determined for the ground state and three lowest vibrational fundamentals of pyrimidine. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Studies on 18F-labeled pyrimidines. II. Metabolic investigation of 18F-5-fluorouracil, 18F-5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine and 18F-5-fluorouridine in rats.

18F-labeled 5-fluorouracil(FUra), 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine(FdUrd), and 5-fluorouridine ( FUrd ) were synthesized with high radiochemical purities. The 18F-labeled pyrimidines were injected into rats. The metabolites in serum, bile, and urine were analyzed up to 2 h after administration by radio-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The blood clearance of three pyrimidines was very rapid. In the serum the nucleosides and base disappeared very rapidly with a biological half-life of about 2 min and most of them had disappeared by 60 min. The metabolites in the urine were similar to those in the serum. In the bile pyrimidine nucleosides and base were not detected. 18F- was found in the metabolites. Our results explain the high uptakes in the kidney and liver in biodistribution studies of the 18F-labeled pyrimidines.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

5-Substituted pyrimidine acyclic nucleoside analogues 1-cyanomethyl- and 1-(4-cyanobutyl)-5-substituted uracils as candidate antitumor agents.

A number of 5-substituted pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides were synthesized and tested for in vitro cytotoxicity against four cell lines (J-82 cell, P-388 cell, FM-3A cell and U-938 cell lines). Synthesis of 1-cyanomethyl-5-substituted pyrimidines (1a-e) and 1-(4-cyanobutyl)-5-substituted pyrimidines (2a-e) was accomplished from the series of alkylation reactions of 5-substituted uracils with the corresponding chloroacetonitrile and 5-chlorovaleronitile in DMSO under 50 degrees C temperature. These 5-substituted pyrimidine acylic nucleosides (1a-e and 2a-e) exhibited moderate to significant activity against four cell lines.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Evidence for essential catalytic determinants for human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase.

Human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, PN-I, catalyzes the dephosphorylation of pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphates. The enzyme also possesses phosphotransferase activity, transferring phosphate groups between pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphates and various pyrimidine nucleosides. Deficiency of the enzyme activity is associated with a hemolytic anemia. PN-I cDNA has been expressed in Escherichia coli, yielding a fully active recombinant enzyme, which was purified to homogeneity and extensively characterized. Multiple sequence alignment of PN-I and homologues proteins revealed the existence of conserved regions, whose importance in catalysis was examined by performing experiments designed to intercept covalent intermediates as strongly suggested by our previous kinetic studies. Furthermore, a functional analysis of the enzyme was carried out through site-directed mutagenesis designed on the basis of the sequence of the identified conserved regions as well as mutations observed in PN-I-deficient patients.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

PubMed1988

Inhibition of orotidylate decarboxylase by 4(5H)-oxo-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine-3-thiocarboxamide (APR-TC) in B lymphoblasts. Activation by adenosine kinase.

The nucleoside allopurinol riboside-3-thiocarboxamide (APR-TC; 4-(5H)oxo-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo[3,4,d]pyrimidine-3-thioca rboxamide) demonstrates potent in vitro antiviral activity against various DNA and RNA viruses and cytostatic activity against a variety of cell lines in culture. The IC50 for APR-TC in the splenic derived B lymphoblast cell line, WI-L2, was 0.3 microM. Adenosine kinase-deficient WI-L2 cells were resistant to growth inhibition by APR-TC, indicating that adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20) is responsible for phosphorylation of APR-TC to form the monophosphate derivative (APR-TC-5'P). A 4-hr incubation of cells with 50 microM APR-TC resulted in severe depletion of intracellular pyrimidine nucleotide pools and the accumulation of 3 microM APR-TC-5'P. The cytotoxicity of APR-TC was reversed by uridine, indicating that the active form of this compound inhibits the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. Further, APR-TC-treated cells could not utilize the pyrimidine nucleotide precursor [6-14C]orotic acid, suggesting that the UMP synthase complex is the major cellular site of inhibition. In studies utilizing cell-free lysates of WI-L2, chemically prepared APR-TC-5'P provided potent inhibition of the orotidylate decarboxylase activity (ODCase, EC 4.1.1.23) of the UMP synthase complex. APR-TC-5'P was competitive with OMP, and a Ki value of 0.35 nM was determined.

Adenosine Kinase↗

PubMed1996

Two activities of the immunosuppressive metabolite of leflunomide, A77 1726. Inhibition of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis and protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the active metabolite of leflunomide, A77 1726 [N-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl-2-cyano-3-hydroxycrotoamide)], is capable of inhibiting the activities of tyrosine kinases and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHO-DHase). In the present study, we define the relative contribution of these activities to the ability of A77 1726 to inhibit proliferation of the murine leukemia cell line LSTRA. A77 1726 inhibited LSTRA cell growth and proliferation (IC50 = 10-30 microM); this inhibition, however, could be reversed by the addition of exogenous uridine, suggesting that the anti-proliferative activity of A77 1726 may be due to inhibition of de novo pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Quantitation of nucleotide levels revealed that A77 1726, at an IC50 of about 10 microM, selectively inhibited pyrimidine nucleotide but not purine nucleotide synthesis. In vitro enzyme assays confirmed that A77 1726 directly inhibited the activity of DHO-DHase, the fourth enzyme in the de novo pathway of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis (IC50 = 220 nM). LSTRA cells overexpress p56lck and have elevated levels of tyrosine phosphorylated intracellular proteins. A77 1726 reduced the intracellular levels of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins with relatively high IC50 values ranging from 50 to 100 microM. A77 1726 also inhibited p56lck activity in LSTRA membrane preparation and immunoprecipitates; the IC50 values for inhibition of immunoprecipitated p56lck autophosphorylation and exogenous substrate histone 2B were 80 and 40 microM, respectively. The anti-tyrosine phosphorylation activity of A77 1726 was not affected by uridine. These studies therefore demonstrate the two activities of A77 1726: inhibition of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis and interference with tyrosine phosphorylation.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Vasoconstrictor-mediated release of purines and pyrimidines from perfused rat hindlimb, perfused mesenteric arcade and incubated de-endothelialized aorta.

1. Reperfusion of hindlimbs that had previously been exposed to either 10 or 60 min global ischaemia resulted in transient washouts of uracil and uric acid in approximate proportion to the interval of ischaemia. However, changing the interval of sequential angiotensin II infusions from 10 to 60 min did not affect the magnitude of sustained uracil and uric acid release. 2. Perfused rat mesenteric artery arcade released uracil and uric acid and each was further increased approximately 2-fold by exposure to the vasoconstrictor, serotonin (6.7 microM). 3. Incubated de-endothelialized rat aorta also released purines and pyrimidines and this was increased further when subjected to increased work loads. 4. The increased rates of release of purines and pyrimidines from hindlimb, and the simpler vascular preparations of mesenteric arcade and aorta, were in proportion to the relative rates of increase in oxygen consumption under maximum vascular load. 5. It is concluded that the release of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides and their catabolites from perfused rat hindlimb occurring as a consequence of vasoconstriction is not the result of release from previously ischaemic tissue. In addition, release of purines and pyrimidines appears to be a general feature of vascular smooth muscle subjected to high workloads.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2001

An improved method for detection and quantification of differential interactions between poliovirus internal ribosome entry site RNA and pyrimidine tract binding protein from primary cells.

Attenuated and pathogenic viral variants are often extremely similar viruses with drastically different replication potentials. Despite precise knowledge of viral residues responsible for poliovirus attenuation/neurovirulence, molecular mechanisms mediating these effects remain poorly understood. Data from numerous sources suggest that a functional difference in translation initiation is one responsible factor. However, direct evidence, as well as a comprehensive model are lacking. Several difficulties, including lack of an assay system to quantify differential internal ribosome entry site/pyrimidine tract binding protein interaction in relevant systems, have precluded progress. A novel assay system that overcomes some difficulties is presented below. The assay uses streptavidin paramagnetic particles, biotinylated RNA and glutathione-S-transferase/pyrimidine tract binding protein fusion to detect nanogram levels of uncloned cellular pyrimidine tract binding protein species that interact with internal ribosome entry site RNA. Using this assay, it was shown that pyrimidine tract binding protein from primary human monocytes binds to internal ribosome entry site RNA from virulent poliovirus better than to that from attenuated virus, while pyrimidine tract binding protein from HeLa cells does not distinguish between the two internal ribosome entry sites. Since primary human monocytes reflect neurovirulence-related differential poliovirus replication, these results suggest that pyrimidine tract binding protein may contribute to differential poliovirus replication in vivo. This assay also has the potential to be applicable broadly to other nucleic acid/protein interactions.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2005

Identification of the first pyrimidine nucleobase transporter in Leishmania: similarities with the Trypanosoma brucei U1 transporter and antileishmanial activity of uracil analogues.

While purine transport has been widely studied in protozoa, almost nothing is known about their capacity to salvage pyrimidines. Here, we report a Leishmania major transporter with high affinity for uracil (Km=0.32+/-0.07 microM) which we designated LmU1. This transporter displayed a high degree of specificity, as it had virtually no affinity for cytosine, thymine or purine nucleobases, nor did it transport pyrimidine nucleosides. Highest affinity was for 5-fluorouracil. The results show that the permeant binding site of LmU1 interacts strongly with the keto groups of uracil, as shown by a low affinity for 2-thio- and 4-thiouracil. LmU1 appears to further bind uracil through a weak hydrogen bond with N(1)H of the pyrimidine ring in addition to a stronger H-bond with N(3)H. Substrate binding and selectivity were strikingly similar to that of the U1 transporter in the related kinetoplastid Trypanosoma brucei. Uracil analogues likely to be transported by LmU1 were also screened for antileishmanial activity, with 5-fluorouracil displaying strong activity against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Overall, the results show that, like purine nucleobase transport, pyrimidine nucleobase transport function is very similar in L. major and T. brucei insect forms.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Selective inhibition by methoxyamine of the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activity associated with pyrimidine dimer-DNA glycosylases from Micrococcus luteus and bacteriophage T4.

The UV endonucleases [endodeoxyribonuclease (pyrimidine dimer), EC 3.1.25.1] from Micrococcus luteus and bacteriophage T4 possess two catalytic activities specific for the site of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in UV-irradiated DNA: a DNA glycosylase that cleaves the 5'-glycosyl bond of the dimerized pyrimidines and an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease that thereupon incises the phosphodiester bond 3' to the resulting apyrimidinic site. We have explored the potential use of methoxyamine, a chemical that reacts at neutral pH with AP sites in DNA, as a selective inhibitor of the AP endonuclease activities residing in the M. luteus and T4 enzymes. The presence of 50 mM methoxyamine during incubation of UV- (4 kJ/m2, 254 nm) treated, [3H]thymine-labeled poly(dA).poly(dT) with either enzyme preparation was found to protect completely the irradiated copolymer from endonucleolytic attack at dimer sites, as assayed by yield of acid-soluble radioactivity. In contrast, the dimer-DNA glycosylase activity of each enzyme remained fully functional, as monitored retrospectively by release of free thymine after either photochemical- (5 kJ/m2, 254 nm) or photoenzymic- (Escherichia coli photolyase plus visible light) induced reversal of pyrimidine dimers in the UV-damaged substrate. Our data demonstrate that the inhibition of the strand-incision reaction arises because of chemical modification of the AP sites and is not due to inactivation of the enzyme by methoxyamine. Our results, combined with earlier findings for 5'-acting AP endonucleases, strongly suggest that methoxyamine is a highly specific inhibitor of virtually all AP endonucleases, irrespective of their modes of action, and may therefore prove useful in a wide variety of DNA repair studies.

DNA Glycosylases↗

PubMed1994

Classical and nonclassical furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as novel antifolates: synthesis and biological activities.

Classical antifolate analogues containing a novel furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring system which include N-[4-[N-[(2,4-diaminofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5- yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (1) and its N-9 methyl analogue 2 were synthesized as potential dual inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and as antitumor agents. Four nonclassical antifolates, 2,4-diamino-5-(anilinomethyl)furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 3-6 with 3,4,5-trimethoxy, 3,4,5-trichloro, 3,4-dichloro, and 2,5-dimethoxy substituents, respectively, in the phenyl ring, were also synthesized as potential inhibitors of DHFRs including those from Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii, which are organisms responsible for opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. The classical and nonclassical analogues were obtained via nucleophilic displacements of the key intermediate 2,4-diamino-5-(chloromethyl)furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine with the appropriate (p-aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamate or substituted aniline. The key intermediate was in turn synthesized from 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine and 1,3-dichloroacetone. The final compounds were tested in vitro against rat liver, (recombinant) human, P. carinii, T. gondii, and Lactobacillus casei DHFRs. The classical analogues showed moderate to good DHFR inhibitory activity (IC50 10(-6)-10(-8) M) with the N-CH3 analogue 2 about twice as potent as 1. The nonclassical analogues were inactive with IC50S > 3 x 10(-5) M. The classical analogues were also evaluated as inhibitors of TS (L. casei, (recombinant) human and human CCRF-CEM), glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase, and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and were found to be inactive against these enzymes. The classical analogues (particularly 2) were significantly cytotoxic toward a variety of tumor cell lines in culture. The nonclassical analogues were marginally active. Both classical compounds were good substrates for human folylpolyglutamate synthetase. Further evaluation of the cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 in CCRF-CEM cells and its sublines, having defined mechanisms of methotrexate (MTX) resistance, demonstrated that the analogues utilize the reduced folate/MTX-transport system and primarily inhibit DHFR and that poly-gamma-glutamylation was crucial to their mechanism of action. Protection studies in the FaDu squamous cell carcinoma cell line indicated that inhibition was completely reversed by leucovorin or the combination of thymidine plus hypoxanthine. Furthermore, for compounds 1 and 2, in contrast to MTX, the FaDu cells were better protected by thymidine alone than hypoxanthine alone, suggesting a predominantly antithymidylate effect.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1991

Synthesis and adenosine receptor affinity of a series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogues of 1-methylisoguanosine.

Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines are pyrazolo analogues of purines. They have been shown to be a general class of compounds which exhibit A1 adenosine receptor affinity. Two series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogues of 1-methylisoguanosine have been synthesized. The first involved substitution of the N1-position while the second involved substitution of the N5-position. Both alkyl and aryl substituents were examined. All compounds were tested for A1 adenosine receptor affinity by using a (R)-[3H]-N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine binding assay. The 3-chlorophenyl group showed the greatest activity in the N1-position and the butyl group produced the greatest activity in the N5-position. Combination of the best substituent in each of these positions enhanced the overall activity. The most potent compound was 4-amino-5-N-butyl-1-(3-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)- one with an IC50 of 6.4 x 10(-6) M. Selectivity at the receptor subclasses was examined by performing an A2 adenosine receptor affinity assay with [3H]CGS 21680. This series of compounds were slightly less potent at A2 receptors. 4-Amino-5-N-butyl-1-(3-chlorophenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)-one was the most potent compound with an IC50 of 19.2 x 10(-6) M.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-ones as adenosine receptor antagonists.

A series of 21 1,3-dialkylpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-ones substituted in the 5-position with various phenyl substituents has been synthesized and found to have affinity for the adenosine A1 receptor. The potency pattern due to substituents of the phenyl ring was found to parallel that found in a previously reported 1,3-dialkyl-8-phenylxanthine series. A quantitative structure-activity relationship was developed between these two series that correctly predicted the potencies of six additional 5-substituted pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidines that were synthesized during the course of the analysis. With use of the correlation as a guide, one additional 5-phenylpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine containing a 4-[[(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino]sulfonyl substituent to improve aqueous solubility was prepared. On the basis of the high correlation between adenosine binding affinities of analogously substituted xanthines and pyrazolo-[4,3-d]pyrimidines and the close superposition of the heterocyclic rings and substituents that is apparent from molecular models of these two series, it is hypothesized they fit the receptor in an analogous fashion.

Adenosine↗

PubMed2005

Improved imide receptors by imprinting using pyrimidine-based fluorescent reporter monomers.

[reaction: see text] Optically responsive receptors toward imides based on 6-substituted 2,4-bis(acrylamido)pyrimidines are presented. The monomers were readily prepared in good yield. Solution binding to 1-benzyluracil (BU) monitored by 1H NMR appeared lower than a previously reported pyridine-based monomer. However, as indicated by 1H NMR and IR spectral investigations, the association strength was demonstrated to be "masked" by dimerization of the pyrimidine-based monomer units. Thus, from dilution experiments, a dimerization constant of 731 M(-1) was estimated for the pyrimidine-based monomer 2,4-bis(acrylamido)-6-piperidinopyrimidine whereas for the pyridine-based monomer 2,6-bis(acrylamido)pyridine, no self-association was observed. This precluded an accurate determination of the binding constant for BU to the former monomer whereas for the latter a binding constant of 757 M(-1) was measured. Despite the strong self-association, the novel monomer was shown to lead to enhanced imprinting effects when compared to imprinted polymers prepared analogously, but using the pyridine-based monomer as the recognition element. This was attributed to a higher intrinsic binding affinity exhibited by the pyrimidine based host monomer vis a vis the guest and the existence in the former of more than one interaction site for the guest. The monomers exhibited fluorescence emission informative of the mode of monomer incorporation in the polymer and the presence of guest species. Thus, the fluorescence was rapidly and selectively quenched upon template addition, with the degree of quenching correlating with binding affinity and the amount of template bound to the polymer.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Thiyl radical interaction with pyrimidine C5-C6 double bond.

Addition and elimination interaction of thiyl radicals with the C5-C6 double bond in pyrimidines was studied by the pulse radiolysis technique in aqueous solution with the use of different monitoring systems. For this purpose, p-thiocresol, cysteamine hydrochloride, and mercaptoethanol were used. The rate constants of addition and elimination of thiyl radicals were determined by applying the modified version of ACUCHEM (computer program for modeling complex reaction systems). Aliphatic thiyl radicals add to the pyrimidine C5-C6 double bond with k = 1.0-3.0 x 10(7) dm3 mol(-1) s(-1), whereas elimination takes place with k = 0.7-2.0 x 10(5) s(-1). Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d)/PCM level show that the addition should occur at the C6 position of the pyrimidine ring and that the energy of interaction between thiyl radicals and the pyrimidine double bond C5-C6 is low.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1995

Disparate actions of hydroxyurea in potentiation of purine and pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside activities against replication of human immunodeficiency virus.

We and other groups have recently reported the potentiation by ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors such as hydroxyurea of the anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity of purine and pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides in both resting and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Little agreement prevails, however, as to the mechanism of the synergistic effects described. We report here that in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, two mechanisms exist for the potentiation of the anti-HIV-1 activity by low-dose hydroxyurea of the purine-based dideoxynucleoside 2',3'-dideoxyinosine and the pyrimidine-based dideoxynucleosides 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine. For 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, the enhancement arises from a specific depletion of dATP by hydroxyurea, resulting in a favorable shift of the 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate/dATP ratio. For the pyrimidine dideoxynucleosides 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, the more modest anti-HIV enhancement results from hydroxyurea-induced increases of pyrimidine kinase activities in the salvage pathway and, hence, increased 5'-phosphorylation of these drugs, while depletion of the corresponding deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates (dTTP and dCTP) plays no significant role.

Adenosine Kinase↗