pyrimidine analogs

Pyrimidine analogs are synthetic compounds designed to resemble natural pyrimidines—building blocks of DNA and RNA, such as cytosine, thymine, and uracil. These analogs mimic the structure of natural bases but often contain slight modifications, allowing them to interfere with DNA or RNA synthesis. As a result, they can inhibit cell growth, making them useful in treating certain diseases like cancer and viral infections. By integrating into genetic material or blocking enzyme functions, pyrimidine analogs help disrupt the replication of abnormal cells or viruses.