DCK
DCK (deoxycytidine kinase) is a nuclear deoxyribonucleoside kinase that phosphorylates deoxycytidine, deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine. It is also essential for activating many nucleoside analogues used as antiviral and chemotherapeutic agents. Browse Assay Genie's current range of DCK research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
DCK is a kinase that transfers a phosphate group to the deoxyribonucleosides deoxycytidine, deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine. It has broad substrate specificity and does not discriminate between substrates on the basis of chirality. This breadth allows the enzyme to act on a wide range of natural nucleosides and on synthetic analogues. DCK is required for the phosphorylation of several deoxyribonucleosides, and it is annotated as an essential enzyme for the phosphorylation of numerous nucleoside analogues widely employed as antiviral and chemotherapeutic agents.
The human DCK gene encodes a protein that localises to the nucleus. It belongs to the DCK/DGK family and sits within the HGNC gene group of deoxyribonucleoside kinases. The enzyme is classified as EC 2.7.1.74. Mouse and rat each carry an orthologous gene, Dck, so the enzyme can be studied in common rodent models.
DCK is clinically important because of its relationship to drug resistance and sensitivity. Deficiency of DCK is associated with resistance to antiviral and anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. Conversely, increased deoxycytidine kinase activity is associated with greater activation of these compounds to cytotoxic nucleoside triphosphate derivatives. For this reason, researchers measuring DCK, whether through a DCK antibody, a DCK ELISA kit or recombinant DCK protein, are often investigating how nucleoside analogue activation varies between cells and tissues.
DCK deficiency is associated with resistance to anticancer chemotherapeutic agents, making it a focus for studies of nucleoside analogue sensitivity.
DCK phosphorylates nucleoside analogues used as antiviral agents, so it is relevant to how these compounds are activated.
DCK phosphorylates deoxycytidine, deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine, placing it within deoxyribonucleoside kinase biology.
Broad substrate specificity and indifference to substrate chirality make DCK a useful enzyme for studying nucleoside recognition.
DCK phosphorylates the deoxyribonucleosides deoxycytidine, deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine. It has broad substrate specificity and is essential for phosphorylating many nucleoside analogues used as antiviral and chemotherapeutic agents, converting them towards their cytotoxic nucleoside triphosphate forms.
Yes. DCK deficiency is associated with resistance to antiviral and anticancer chemotherapeutic agents, whereas increased deoxycytidine kinase activity is associated with greater activation of these compounds. This is why DCK is regarded as clinically important for drug sensitivity.
Yes. Both mouse and rat have an orthologous gene named Dck. The human protein belongs to the DCK/DGK family. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity before using it in a rodent model.
Other nucleoside kinases and nucleotide-metabolism enzymes with research reagents at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P27707; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.