Biochemistry of azacitidine: a review.

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Glover AB, Leyland-Jones B

Biochemistry of azacitidine: a review.

Cancer Treat Rep. 1987 Oct;71(10):959-64.

PubMed ID

2443243 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Azacitidine is a pyrimidine ring analog of cytidine that is incorporated into RNA causing alteration in RNA synthesis and processing and resulting in inhibition of protein synthesis. Azacitidine as the deoxynucleotide is also incorporated into DNA inhibiting its synthesis and blocking cytosine methylation by noncompetitive inhibition of DNA methyltransferase. The resulting hypomethylation of DNA is thought to induce gene activation and expression and cell differentiation. This may be an underlying factor in azacitidine's antileukemic activity and also contributes to its carcinogenic and tumor-promoting properties in experimental models.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Azacitidine	DNA	Nucleotide	Humans	Yes	Other	Details
Azacitidine	DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details
Azacitidine	RNA	Nucleotide	Humans	Yes	Other	Details