Deoxycytidine triphosphate

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Deoxycytidine triphosphate

Deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) is a cytidine nucleotide triphosphate that is used whenever DNA is synthesized, such as in the polymerase chain reaction. e.g.:

A chemical equation can be written that represents the process:

(DNA)_n + dCTP ↔ (DNA)_n-C + PP_i

That is, dCTP has the PP_i (pyrophosphate) cleaved off and the dCMP is incorporated into the DNA strand at the 3' end. Subsequent hydrolysis of the PP_i drives the equilibrium of the reaction toward the right side, ie. incorporation of the nucleotide in the growing DNA chain.

It is stored at -20 degrees Celsius.