Intracellular nucleotide pools and their significance in antimetabolite therapy

The regulatory properties of several ribo- and deoxyribonucleotides are outlined as a basis for a discussion of the modes of action of selected antimetabolites. Particular attention is devoted both to the perturbations induced by these agents in nucleotide pools and to the stability of endogenous pools as determinants of cytotoxicity. Attempts to modulate the activites of antimetabolites, either with specific nucleic acid presursors, or with other agents are discussed briefly.