Arabinosyladenine (araA)

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

See also: Nucleotide Analogs in Medicine, Adenosine