2′-O-Methyl Uridine (CAS 2140-76-3)

2′-O-Methyl Uridine, also known as 2′-OMe-U, is a modified nucleoside that has been extensively used in scientific research. It is a uridine analog utilized for various purposes, including the preparation of antiviral nucleoside derivatives as inhibitors of subgenomic hepatitis C virus RNA replication. In the field of RNA studies, 2′-O-Methyl Uridine has proven to be useful. It is a component of specific ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and exhibits diverse biochemical and physiological effects. One significant role of 2′-O-Methyl Uridine is its potency as an inhibitor of ribonuclease H (RNase H), an enzyme involved in RNA degradation. By inhibiting RNase H, 2′-O-Methyl Uridine enables researchers to investigate the structure and function of various RNAs. Furthermore, 2′-O-Methyl Uridine has been employed to inhibit the activity of enzymes participating in essential processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation. The inhibitory mechanism of 2′-O-Methyl Uridine on RNase H is attributed to the presence of a methyl group at the 2′-position of the uridine molecule. This chemical modification prevents the enzyme from binding to its substrate, thus effectively inhibiting its activity. Its inhibitory effects on these enzymes have been valuable in elucidating their mechanisms and understanding their functions. It has also been employed as a probe to explore the intricate folding mechanisms of RNA molecules. By introducing 2′-O-Methyl Uridine into RNA structures, researchers can gain insights into the folding patterns and overall structural properties of RNA.