Guanosine (symbol G or Guo) is a purine nucleoside comprising guanine attached to a ribose (ribofuranose) ring via a β-N9-glycosidic bond. Guanosine can be Phosphorylation to become guanosine monophosphate (GMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), guanosine diphosphate (GDP), and guanosine triphosphate (GTP). These forms play important roles in various biochemical processes such as synthesis of and proteins, photosynthesis, muscle contraction, and intracellular signal transduction (cGMP). When guanine is attached by its N9 nitrogen to the C1 carbon of a deoxyribose ring it is known as deoxyguanosine.
Physical and chemical properties
Guanosine is a white, crystalline powder with no odor and mild saline taste.
It is very soluble in
acetic acid, slightly soluble in water, insoluble in
ethanol,
diethyl ether,
benzene and
chloroform.
Functions
Guanosine is required for an
RNA splicing reaction in
mRNA, when a "self-splicing"
intron removes itself from the mRNA message by cutting at both ends, re-ligating, and leaving just the
on either side to be translated into protein.
[ Splicing (JPG) ]
Uses
The antiviral drug
acyclovir, often used in herpes treatment, and the anti-HIV drug
abacavir, are structurally similar to guanosine.
[Product Information: ZIAGEN(R) oral tablets, oral solution, abacavir sulfate oral tablets, oral solution. ViiV Healthcare (per Manufacturer), Research Triangle Park, NC, 2015.] Guanosine was also used to make
regadenoson.
Sources
Guanosine can be found in
pancreas,
clover,
coffee plant, and pollen of
.
