Definition: Nucleosides that have two hydroxy groups removed from the sugar moiety. The majority of these compounds have broad-spectrum antiretroviral activity due to their action as antimetabolites. The nucleosides are phosphorylated intracellularly to their 5'-triphosphates and act as chain-terminating inhibitors of viral reverse transcription.
antivirals & antimetabolites
Other names Dideoxyribonucleosides; 2',3'-Dideoxynucleosides; 2',3' Dideoxynucleosides; ddNus
abacavir [ (1S,4R)-4-(2-amino-6-(cyclopropylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl)-2-cyclopentene-1-methanol,1592U89,GSK brand of abacavir sulfate,Ziagen,abacavir succinate,abacavir sulfate ] a carbocyclic nucleoside with potent selective anti-HIV activity; structure given in first source