deoxyribonucleosides
Deoxyribonucleosides are a class of nucleosides composed of a deoxyribose sugar attached to a nitrogenous base. The sugar is 2-deoxyribose, lacking the 2' hydroxyl group found in ribose, which contributes to the greater chemical stability of DNA compared with RNA.
Attachment occurs through a glycosidic bond between the 1' carbon of deoxyribose and the nitrogen atom of
In cells, deoxyribonucleosides serve as precursors to deoxyribonucleotides through phosphorylation by specific kinases. Salvage pathways recycle
In medicine, deoxyribonucleoside analogs are used as antiviral and anticancer agents when modified; examples include zidovudine