Deoxycytidine is a

deoxyribonucleoside A deoxyribonucleotide is a nucleotide that contains deoxyribose. They are the monomeric units of the informational biopolymer, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Each deoxyribonucleotide comprises three parts: a deoxyribose sugar (monosaccharide), a nitr ...

, a component of deoxyribonucleic acid. It is similar to the ribonucleoside cytidine, but with one hydroxyl group removed from the C2' position. Deoxycytidine can be phosphorylated at C5' of the deoxyribose by deoxycytidine kinase, converting it to deoxycytidine monophosphate (dCMP), a DNA precursor. dCMP can be converted to dUMP and dTMP. It can also be used as a precursor for 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, a treatment for MDS patients. This compound slows the cell cycle by interfering with the

methylation Methylation, in the chemistry, chemical sciences, is the addition of a methyl group on a substrate (chemistry), substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replac ...

of the P15/INK4B gene, increasing the expression of P15/INK4B protein which subdues the transformation of MDS to

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...

. Deoxycytidine can also serve as a biomarker for tumor diagnosis. Deoxycytidine can be used as a biomarker for breast cancer patients and healthy individuals. 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC), 5-(formyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-fodC), and 5-(carboxyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-cadC) are intermediates in the DNA demethylation pathway and can act as biomarkers. 5-hmdC levels were significantly reduced in urine samples of breast cancer patients, while 5-fodC and 5-cadC levels were elevated.

References

{{Nucleobases, nucleosides, and nucleotides Nucleosides Pyrimidones Hydroxymethyl compounds