a pyrimidine found in nucleic acid s.
- c. arabinoside (CA, AraC) 1. a synthetic nucleoside used as an antimetabolite in the treatment of neoplasms; 2. incorrect term for arabinosylcytosine.
- c. ribonucleoside SYN: cytidine.
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cy·to·sine 'sīt-ə-.sēn n a pyrimidine base C4H5N3O that codes genetic information in the polynucleotide chain of DNA or RNA compare ADENINE, GUANINE, THYMINE, URACIL
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n.
one of the nitrogen-containing bases (see pyrimidine) that occurs in the nucleic acid DNA.
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cy·to·sine (siґto-sēn) a pyrimidine base found in animal and plant cells, usually occurring condensed with ribose or deoxyribose to form the nucleosides cytidine and deoxycytidine, major constituents of nucleic acids. Symbol C. See also illustration of purine and pyrimidine bases, under base.Medical dictionary. 2011.