How Do You Spell DIDEOXYCYTOSINE?

Pronunciation: [dˈɪdɪˌɒksɪsˌɪtəsˌa͡ɪn] (IPA)

Dideoxycytosine is a compound used in antiviral medication and biological research. The spelling of this word can be broken down using IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable starts with a "di" sound, followed by "de" and "oxy." The second syllable contains a "cy" sound, followed by "to" and "si." The final syllable is "ne." Thus, dideoxycytosine is pronounced di-dee-oks-ee-sahy-toh-seen. It's important to use correct spelling and pronunciation when referring to scientific compounds to avoid confusion and ensure accuracy.

DIDEOXYCYTOSINE Meaning and Definition

1. Dideoxycytosine is a nucleoside analog that is commonly abbreviated as ddC. It is a synthetic compound used in medical and research fields primarily as an antiviral agent. Dideoxycytosine belongs to the class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which interfere with the replication process of viruses.

   In terms of its chemical structure, dideoxycytosine is composed of a cytosine base attached to a deoxyribose sugar molecule. The key distinction of dideoxycytosine is the absence of a hydroxyl (-OH) group at the 3' position on the deoxyribose sugar. This structural alteration prevents further replication of viral genetic material by inhibiting the activity of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme crucial for viral DNA synthesis.

   Dideoxycytosine has been primarily used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of HIV infection. By inhibiting reverse transcriptase, it lowers the viral load and slows down the progression of the disease. However, its effectiveness has been limited by the development of resistance over time, leading to the utilization of other antiretroviral drugs in combination therapies.

   Additionally, dideoxycytosine has shown activity against various other retroviruses, such as hepatitis B and herpes simplex virus. It is administered orally or intravenously, depending on the specific indication and patient characteristics.

   While offering potential benefits in treating viral infections, dideoxycytosine may also have side effects including gastrointestinal disturbances, skin rashes, and hematologic abnormalities. Close monitoring of patients taking dideoxycytosine is necessary to manage these effects and ensure safety.

Common Misspellings for DIDEOXYCYTOSINE

• sideoxycytosine
• xideoxycytosine
• cideoxycytosine
• fideoxycytosine
• rideoxycytosine
• eideoxycytosine
• dudeoxycytosine
• djdeoxycytosine
• dkdeoxycytosine
• dodeoxycytosine
• d9deoxycytosine
• d8deoxycytosine
• diseoxycytosine
• dixeoxycytosine
• diceoxycytosine
• difeoxycytosine
• direoxycytosine
• dieeoxycytosine
• didwoxycytosine
• didsoxycytosine

Etymology of DIDEOXYCYTOSINE

The word "dideoxycytosine" is a compound term that consists of three parts: "di-", "deoxygenated", and "cytosine".

- "Di-" is a prefix derived from Latin meaning "two" or "double", indicating that there are two missing oxygen atoms in this compound.

- "Deoxygenated" is a word formed from the prefix "de-" meaning "remove" and the root "oxygenated" meaning "having oxygen". Therefore, "deoxygenated" means "without oxygen".

- "Cytosine" is a nucleobase that is one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA. It is derived from the Greek word "kytos" meaning "container" or "cell" due to its presence in cells.

Overall, "dideoxycytosine" describes a molecule derived from cytosine in which two oxygen atoms have been removed.