5-Methyluridine (5-MU) is an intermediate in the synthesis of ß-thymidine and the antiretroviral drugs stavudine (d4T) and zidovudine (AZT)1-3. The enzymatic preparation of 5-MU involves transglycosylation4-6 and avoids the formation of unwanted isomers. The overall transglycosylation reaction effectively converts one nucleoside into another through exchange of the heterocyclic base in the presence of nucleoside phosphorylases.
Reference:
Visser, DF, Gordon, GER, Bode, ML, Mathiba, K and Brady, D. 2012. Enzymatic synthesis of 5-methyluridine by transglycosylation of guanosine and thymine. Practical Methods for Biocatalysis and Biotransformations 2. Wiley-Blackwell. Chichester, UK, pp. 235-240
Visser, D. F., Gordon, G., Bode, M., Mathiba, K., & Brady, D. (2012). Enzymatic synthesis of 5-Methyluridine by transglycosylation of guanosine and thymine., Workflow;5455 Wiley-Blackwell. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6497
Visser, Daniel F, GER Gordon, ML Bode, K Mathiba, and D Brady. "Enzymatic synthesis of 5-methyluridine by transglycosylation of guanosine and thymine" In WORKFLOW;5455, n.p.: Wiley-Blackwell. 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6497.
Visser DF, Gordon G, Bode M, Mathiba K, Brady D. Enzymatic synthesis of 5-methyluridine by transglycosylation of guanosine and thymine.. Workflow;5455. [place unknown]: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012. [cited yyyy month dd]. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6497.