Thymidine kinase in clinical chemistry
Thymidine Kinase in Clinical Chemistry[edit | edit source]
Thymidine kinase (TK) is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the nucleotide salvage pathway, which is essential for DNA synthesis and repair. In clinical chemistry, the activity of thymidine kinase is of significant interest due to its association with cell proliferation and its potential as a biomarker in various diseases, particularly in oncology.
Function and Mechanism[edit | edit source]
Thymidine kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of thymidine to thymidine monophosphate (dTMP), using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the phosphate donor. This reaction is a key step in the salvage pathway, allowing cells to recycle thymidine for DNA synthesis. The enzyme exists in two main isoforms: TK1, which is cell cycle-dependent and primarily active during the S phase, and TK2, which is constitutively expressed in mitochondria.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Oncology[edit | edit source]
In oncology, TK1 activity is often elevated in rapidly proliferating cells, making it a useful marker for cell proliferation. Elevated serum TK1 levels have been observed in patients with various types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Monitoring TK1 activity can aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment efficacy in cancer patients.
Infectious Diseases[edit | edit source]
Thymidine kinase is also a target for antiviral drugs. Certain antiviral agents, such as idoxuridine, are phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinases, leading to the incorporation of these drugs into viral DNA and subsequent termination of DNA synthesis.
Diagnostic Applications[edit | edit source]
The measurement of TK activity in serum or plasma can be performed using various biochemical assays. These assays are valuable in clinical settings for assessing tumor burden and response to therapy. The development of more sensitive and specific assays continues to enhance the utility of TK as a biomarker in clinical practice.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
