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Key Documents

C3506

Sigma-Aldrich

Cytosine

≥99%

Synonym(s):

4-Amino-2-hydroxypyrimidine, 4-Aminopyrimidin-2-(1H)-one

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About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C4H5N3O
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
111.10
Beilstein:
2637
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
41106305
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.51

biological source

synthetic (organic)

Assay

≥99%

form

powder

mp

>300 °C (lit.)

solubility

0.5 M HCl: 50 mg/mL, clear to very slightly hazy, colorless to faintly yellow

SMILES string

NC1=NC(=O)NC=C1

InChI

1S/C4H5N3O/c5-3-1-2-6-4(8)7-3/h1-2H,(H3,5,6,7,8)

InChI key

OPTASPLRGRRNAP-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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Application

Cytosine has been used:
  • for the preparation of nucleobase solutions
  • as a standard for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • for the estimation of global methylation rate
  • for nucleoside 5′-triphosphate (NTP) synthesis
  • purification

Biochem/physiol Actions

Cytosine (C) is one of the four main bases found in DNA and RNA, along with adenine, guanine, and thymine (uracil in RNA).
Cytosine is a pyrimidine, which forms three hydrogen bonds to base pair with guanine. It forms a nucleotide cytidine, that is phosphorylated to cytidine 5′ monophosphate (CMP), cytidine 5′ diphosphate (CDP) and cytidine 5′ triphosphate (CTP).

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 1

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

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