Naturally-occurring RNA modified nucleoside s2Um for vaccine and cancer research. It exhibits antiviral activity against various viral infections, making it a potential therapeutic option for treating RNA virus-associated diseases. It has been shown to stabilize duplex DNA against thermal denaturation by forming triplexes with complementary sequences. It also stabilizes dsDNA against hydrolysis by the enzyme ribonuclease H (RNase H) and has been used in the design of antisense therapeutics. Thermophilic bacteria use this molecule to synthesize their own thymine nucleotides, which are structurally similar to 2’-O-methyl-2-thiouridine. Its unique properties and versatility make it an essential tool for studying RNA biology and developing antiviral therapies.
Frequently used nucleoside building block in the synthesis of RNA oligomers, finds its application in the biomedical sector for creating RNA constructs that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases like cancer and genetic disorders.
Used for further modified purine nucleoside synthesis