[Inhibition of DNA biosynthesis in sea urchin embryos by 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminonucleosides]

It was shown that 3'-deoxy-3'-aminothymidine and 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminoadenosine are effective inhibitors of DNA synthesis of sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) embryos during the early steps of development. The most probable mechanism of inhibition includes the blocking of the template-directed polycondensation, in which the inhibitors act as analogs of the substrates--thymidine and 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphates. An efficient degradation of the newly synthesized DNA was observed during the inhibition.