Pyrimidine analogue
Encyclopedia
Pyrimidine analogues are antimetabolite
s which mimic the structure of metabolic pyrimidine
s.
Antimetabolite
An antimetabolite is a chemical that inhibits the use of a metabolite, which is another chemical that is part of normal metabolism. Such substances are often similar in structure to the metabolite that they interfere with, such as the antifolates that interfere with the use of folic acid...
s which mimic the structure of metabolic pyrimidine
Pyrimidine
Pyrimidine is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound similar to benzene and pyridine, containing two nitrogen atoms at positions 1 and 3 of the six-member ring...
s.
Examples
Examples include:- 5-fluorouracilFluorouracilFluorouracil is a drug that is a pyrimidine analog which is used in the treatment of cancer. It is a suicide inhibitor and works through irreversible inhibition of thymidylate synthase. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites...
(5FU) which inhibits thymidylate synthaseThymidylate synthaseThymidylate synthetase is the enzyme used to generate thymidine monophosphate , which is subsequently phosphorylated to thymidine triphosphate for use in DNA synthesis and repair....
. - FloxuridineFloxuridineFloxuridine is an oncology drug that belongs to the class known as antimetabolites. The drug is most often used in the treatment of colorectal cancer.-Mechanism of action:...
(FUDR) - Cytosine arabinoside (Cytarabine)