Deoxycytidine Kinase (DCK)

Deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) is a crucial enzyme in the nucleoside salvage pathway, catalyzing the phosphorylation of deoxycytidine, deoxyadenosine, and deoxyguanosine. It plays a vital role in activating nucleoside analog prodrugs used as antiviral and chemotherapeutic agents. DCK is essential for maintaining deoxynucleotide triphosphate pools needed for DNA replication and repair, particularly in tissues with high lymphocyte turnover like the thymus and bone marrow. Its subcellular location is primarily within the cell nucleus.

Phosphorylation of deoxyribonucleosides and nucleoside analogs to their monophosphate forms, activating them for incorporation into DNA or RNA and inhibiting DNA/RNA synthesis.