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deoxyribonucleotiden

Deoxyribonucleotides are the monomeric units of DNA. Each consists of a 2'-deoxyribose sugar, a nitrogenous base (adenine, cytosine, guanine, or thymine), and one to three phosphate groups. The absence of the 2' hydroxyl on the sugar distinguishes them from ribonucleotides, the building blocks of RNA.

In cells, deoxyribonucleotides exist as monophosphates (dNMP), diphosphates (dNDP), and triphosphates (dNTP). The four dNTPs—dAMP, dCMP,

Most cellular deoxyribonucleotides are produced by ribonucleotide reduction, which converts ribonucleotides (rNTPs) to their deoxy- forms,

Beyond their role in DNA, deoxyribonucleotides are studied in medicine and biology as targets for chemotherapy

dGMP,
and
dTMP—and
their
di-
and
triphosphates
serve
as
substrates
for
DNA
synthesis,
with
DNA
polymerases
incorporating
the
complementary
dNTPs
into
a
growing
DNA
strand:
A
pairs
with
T,
G
with
C.
The
triphosphate
forms
supply
energy
and
drive
bond
formation
through
release
of
two
pyrophosphate
molecules.
followed
by
salvage
pathways.
Balanced
pools
of
dNTPs
are
essential
for
accurate
replication
and
repair;
imbalances
can
cause
mutagenesis
and
cytotoxicity.
and
as
tools
in
molecular
genetics.
Disruptions
in
dNTP
metabolism
are
features
of
certain
diseases;
several
drugs
exploit
deoxyribonucleotide
synthesis
pathways,
including
inhibitors
of
ribonucleotide
reductase
and
thymidylate
synthesis.