Cytosine Deaminase
Cytosine Deaminase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of cytosine, a nucleobase found in DNA and RNA, into uracil. This reaction involves the removal of an amine group from cytosine, which is essential for various biological processes, including DNA repair and RNA metabolism.
In biotechnology, cytosine deaminase is utilized in gene therapy and cancer treatment. By converting cytosine to uracil, it can help target and eliminate cancer cells that express specific genes. This targeted approach minimizes damage to healthy cells, making it a promising tool in developing more effective therapies.