Arabinosylcytosine (araC)

araC is an aranibonsyl derivative of cytosine that is used in chemotherapy. The compound is readily taken up by cells and converted to the triphosphate form (araCTP). AraCTP is an inhibitor of the cellular DNA polymerase. A related compound, araA is used to combat herpeviruses and functions by the same mechanism of inhibition on the herpesvirus DNA polymerase.

See also: Nucleotide Analogs in Medicine, Adenosine, araC