Dnucleosides

Dnucleosides are a class of molecules that are structurally similar to nucleosides but with a key difference in their chemical composition. Nucleosides are composed of a nucleobase (such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil) linked to a ribose or deoxyribose sugar. Dnucleosides, on the other hand, incorporate a modified sugar moiety, often referred to as a "D-sugar" in contrast to the naturally occurring L-sugars found in ribose and deoxyribose. This modification typically involves a change in the stereochemistry at one or more chiral centers of the sugar ring.

The altered sugar structure in dnucleosides leads to distinct physical and chemical properties compared to their natural counterparts. These differences can influence their recognition by enzymes and their incorporation into nucleic acid structures. While naturally occurring nucleosides are the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA, dnucleosides are primarily of synthetic origin, often created in laboratory settings for research purposes.

Researchers explore dnucleosides for various applications, including the development of antiviral and anticancer drugs. Their modified structure can sometimes interfere with viral replication or cancer cell proliferation by acting as chain terminators in DNA synthesis or by inhibiting key enzymes. The study of dnucleosides contributes to our understanding of nucleic acid chemistry and the potential for designing novel therapeutic agents.