Cytosine

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Cytosine is one of the 5 main nucleobases used in storing and transporting genetic information within a cell in the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. It is a pyrimidine derivative, with a heterocyclic aromatic ring and two substituents attached (an amine group at position 4 and a keto group at position 2). The nucleoside of cytosine is cytidine.

Related Topics:
Nucleobase - Genetic - Nucleic acid - DNA - RNA - Pyrimidine - Heterocyclic - Aromatic ring - Amine - Keto - Nucleoside - Cytidine

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Cytosine was first discovered in 1894 when it was isolated from calf thymus tissues. A structure was proposed in 1903, and was synthesized (and thus confirmed) in the laboratory in the same year.

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Cytosine recently found use in quantum computation. The first time any

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quantum mechanical properties were harnessed to process information

Related Topics:
Quantum - Information

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took place on August 1st in 1998 when researchers at Oxford implemented David Deutsch's algorithm on a two qubit NMRQC (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Quantum Computer) based on the cytosine molecule.

Related Topics:
David Deutsch's - Qubit - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - Molecule

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Cytosine can be found as part of DNA, RNA, or as a part of a nucleotide. As cytosine triphosphate (CTP), it can act as a co-factor to enzymes, and can transfer a phosphate to convert adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Related Topics:
Nucleotide - Cytosine triphosphate - Adenosine diphosphate - Adenosine triphosphate

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In DNA and RNA, cytosine is paired with guanine. However, it is inherently unstable, and can change into uracil (spontaneous deamination). This can lead to a point mutation if not repaired by the DNA repair enzymes.

Related Topics:
Guanine - Uracil - Spontaneous deamination - Point mutation - DNA repair - Enzymes

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Cytosine can also be methylated into 5-methylcytosine by an enzyme called DNA methyltransferase.

Related Topics:
Methylated - 5-methylcytosine - DNA methyltransferase

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