Deoxypyrimidine kinase

This enzyme [EC 2.7.1.21], better known as thymidine kinase, catalyzes the reaction of ATP with thymidine to produce ADP and thymidine 5 -phosphate. Deoxyuri-dtne can serve as a substrate and dGTP can substitute for ATP. The deoxypyrimidine kinase complex induced by herpes simplex virus catalyzes this reaction as well as those of AMPithymidine kinase, ADPithymidine kinase, and dTMP kinase. 

Falke, D. Labenz, J. Brauer, D. Muller, W.E.G. Adenosine diphosphate thymidine 5-phosphotransferase, a new enzyme activity, associated with the Herpes simplex virus-induced deoxypyrimidine kinase. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 708, 99-103 (1982)... 

Iododeoxyuridine is a derivative of uridine used to combat herpesvirus. The viral enzyme, deoxypyrimidine kinase, readily phosphorylates 5-iododeoxyuridine and the viral DNA polymerase attempts, in turn, to incorporate them into DNA in place of the corresponding dNTP.The drug interferes with DNA replication. Uninfected cells phosphorylate 5-iododeoxyuridine only weakly, so DNA replication and virus growth are inhibited selectively in infected cells. 

Acyclovir is an antiviral drug used to treat herpesvirus infection. The basis of its action is that acyclovir resembles part of the guanosine nucleoside and is phosphorylated by the viral enzyme, deoxypyrimidine kinase. The phosphorylated triphosphate form of acyclovir is an inhibitor of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase. A related compound, ganciclovir, H2N works similarly. Uninfected cells do not efficiently phosphorylate acyclovir and ganciclovir, so DNA replication and vims growth are inhibited selectively in infected cells. 

T. Ogino, T. Otsuka, and M. Takahashi. 1977. Induction of deoxypyrimidine kinase activity in human... 

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