[13C,15N2]-2',2'-Difluorodeoxyuridine

[13C,15N2]-2',2'-Difluorodeoxyuridine, also known as [13C,15N2]-dFdU, is a modified nucleoside analog that contains the stable isotopes carbon-13 and nitrogen-15. It is primarily used in research studies to investigate the mechanisms of action and efficacy of nucleoside analogs in cancer treatment. [13C,15N2]-dFdU is structurally similar to the nucleoside thymidine, which is a building block of DNA. However, the addition of two fluorine atoms to the structure of [13C,15N2]-dFdU leads to the inhibition of DNA synthesis. This inhibition primarily occurs through the competitive inhibition of the enzyme thymidylate synthase, which is responsible for the production of thymidine from deoxyuridine. The incorporation of stable isotopes into [13C,15N2]-dFdU allows for the tracking of the compound in biological systems using mass spectrometry. This enables researchers to study the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and biodistribution of the compound in vivo. In addition to its use in cancer research, [13C,15N2]-dFdU may also have potential applications in the treatment of viral infections, as it has been shown to inhibit the replication of certain viruses such as herpes simplex virus and human cytomegalovirus. Overall, the stable isotope-labeled nucleoside analog [13C,15N2]-dFdU is a valuable tool for understanding the mechanisms of action of nucleoside analogs in cancer treatment and has potential applications in the treatment of viral infections.