| dideoxyadenosine | <chemical> A dideoxynucleoside compound in which the 3'-hydroxy group on the sugar moiety has been replaced by a hydrogen. This modification prevents the formation of phosphodiester linkages which are needed for the completion of nucleic acid chains. The compound is an inhibitor of HIV replication, acting as a chain-terminator of viral DNA by binding to reverse transcriptase. Its principal side effect is nephrotoxicity. In vivo, dideoxyadenosine is rapidly metabolised to didanosine (ddi) by enzymatic deamination; ddi is then converted to dideoxyinosine monophosphate and ultimately to dideoxyadenosine triphosphate, the putative active metabolite. Pharmacological action: antimetabolites, antiviral agents. Chemical name: Adenosine, 2',3'-dideoxy- (12 Dec 1998) |
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