Ganciclovir

Chemical structure: nucleoside

Ganciclovir is used in molecular biology for selection against random recombination events when homologous recombination of a gene of interest is required.

Ganciclovir is a pro-drug nucleoside analog that is activated by phosphorylation. It is useful in the study of gene therapy in cancer research.
Upon expression of a viral suicide gene encoding thymidine kinase, the non-toxic pro-drug is converted to a phosphorylated active analog and is incorporated into the DNA of replicating eukaryotic cells, causing death of the malignant dividing cell. The cell cycle is irreversibly arrested at the G2-M checkpoint. Gap junction involvement in the ganciclovir bystander effect has been studied. Ganciclovir has been used to study loss of telomeres and to evaluate sensitivity of viruses to antiviral treatments.

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This compound was developed by Roche. To browse the list of other pharma-developed compounds and Approved Drugs/Drug Candidates, click here.

Ganciclovir is soluble in 0.1 M HCl (10 mg/ml), DMSO (5 mg/ml), water (2 mg/ml), hot methanol, and ethanol (<1 mg/ml).
This product should be stored desiccated at 2-8 °C. Under these conditions the product is stable for 3 years.

Ganciclovir is tested for solubility in 0.1M HCl at 10 mg/mL. The compound is also soluble in DMSO at 5 mg/mL.