Thymidine kinase, cytosolic

Cell-cycle-regulated enzyme of importance in nucleotide metabolism. Catalyzes the first enzymatic step in the salvage pathway converting thymidine into thymidine monophosphate. Transcriptional regulation limits expression to the S phase of the cell cycle and transient expression coincides with the oscillation in the intracellular dTTP concentration (Probable). Also important for the activation of anticancer and antiviral nucleoside analog prodrugs such as 1-b-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (AraC) and 3c-azido-3c-deoxythymidine (AZT).