title: The role of thymidine kinases in the activation of pyrimidine nucleoside analogues.
abstract: Deoxynucleoside analogues need activation by deoxynucleoside kinases to serve as antiviral or anticancer agents. Here we review the properties of cellular cytoplasmic thymidine kinase 1, mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2, the multisubstrate deoxynucleoside kinase from Drosophila melanogaster and Herpes virus 1 thymidine kinase. Important substrate activity relationships will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, Division of Veterinary Medical Bio-Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Center, Box 575, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ashraf S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al-Madhoun
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tjarks
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013936:Thymidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D013936:Thymidine