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deoxythymidylic acid
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deoxythymidylic acid

chemical compound
Also known as: dTMP
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Quick Summary

Deoxythymidylic acid (dTMP) is a chemical compound that serves as a building block for DNA. It is a nucleotide, meaning it is composed of a nucleoside (thymidine) and phosphoric acid. Thymidine itself consists of the pyrimidine base thymine linked to the sugar deoxyribose.12

In DNA, thymine replaces the base uracil found in RNA. The synthesis of dTMP involves the conversion of deoxyuridylic acid (dUMP) by accepting a methyl group, a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme thymidylate synthetase with folic acid as a coenzyme. This process is crucial for the creation of DNA, which regulates hereditary characteristics in all living cells.21

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. thymine
  2. metabolism - Deoxyribonucleotides

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