Bromodeoxyuridine

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Bromodeoxyuridine
Bromodeoxyuridine.svg
Identifiers
CAS number 59-14-3 Yes check.svgY
PubChem 6918942
MeSH Bromodeoxyuridine
SMILES
InChI
InChI key WOVKYSAHUYNSMH-VQVTYTSYBQ
ChemSpider ID 5294121
Properties
Molecular formula C9H11BrN2O5
Molar mass 307.098
 Yes check.svgY (what is this?)  (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU) is a synthetic nucleoside that is an analogue of thymidine. BrdU is commonly used in the detection of proliferating cells in living tissues.

BrdU can be incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA of replicating cells (during the S phase of the cell cycle), substituting for thymidine during DNA replication. Antibodies specific for BrdU can then be used to detect the incorporated chemical (see immunohistochemistry), thus indicating cells that were actively replicating their DNA. Binding of the antibody requires denaturation of the DNA, usually by exposing the cells to acid or heat.

Because BrdU can replace thymidine during DNA replication, it can cause mutations, and its use is therefore potentially a health hazard.

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