Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Nucleoside Triphosphates - From Synthesis to Biochemical Characterization
Published on: April 3, 2014
Deoxyribonucleoside kinases: two enzyme families catalyze the same reaction
Michael P B Sandrini1, Jure Piskur
1Cell and Organism Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, SE-22732 Lund, Sweden.
Abstract:
Mammals have four deoxyribonucleoside kinases, the cytoplasmic (TK1) and mitochondrial (TK2) thymidine kinases, and the deoxycytidine (dCK) and deoxyguanosine (dGK) kinases, which salvage the precursors for nucleic acids synthesis. In addition to the native deoxyribonucleoside substrates, the kinases can phosphorylate and thereby activate a variety of anti-cancer and antiviral prodrugs. Recently, the crystal structure of human TK1 has been solved and has revealed that enzymes with fundamentally different origins and folds catalyze similar, crucial cellular reactions.
Related Concept Videos
Enzyme-linked Receptors
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...
Nucleic Acid Structure
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

