Definitions for "Nucleoside analogue"
Keywords:  azt, ddc, ddi, viral, analogue
An artificial copy of a nucleoside (the building blocks of DNA). When incorporated into the virus' DNA during viral replication, the analogue acts to prevent production of new virus. Nucleoside analogues can also inhibit production of DNA in healthy cells. Non-nucleoside analogues are drugs that inhibit the virus without using this mechanism.
Chemical which resembles a nucleoside. Family of antiretrovirals which includes AZT, ddI, 3TC, d4T, ddC and abacavir.
An artificial copy of a nucleoside. When incorporated into a virus DNA or RNA during viral replication, the nucleoside analogue acts to prevent production of new virus. Nucleoside analogues may take the place of natural nucleosides, blocking the completion of a viral DNA chain during infection of a new cell by HIV.
A synthetic molecule that resembles a naturally occurring nucleoside, but that lacks the bond site needed to link it to an adjacent nucleotide. See nucleoside.