Cytidine
IUPAC name	4-​amino-​1-​[3,​4-​dihydroxy-​5-​(hydroxymethyl)​tetrahydrofuran-​2-​yl]​pyrimidin-​2-​one
Identifiers
CAS number	65-46-3 Y
PubChem	6175
MeSH	Cytidine
SMILES	NC1=NC(=O)N(C=C1) [C@@H]2O[C@H](CO)C(O)C2O
Properties
Molecular formula	C9H13N3O5
Molar mass	243.22 g mol−1
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Cytidine is a nucleoside molecule that is formed when cytosine is attached to a ribose ring (also known as a ribofuranose) via a β-N₁-glycosidic bond. Cytidine is a component of RNA.

If cytosine is attached to a deoxyribose ring, it is known as a deoxycytidine.

[edit] Dietary sources of cytidine

Dietary sources of cytidine include foods with high RNA (ribonucleic acid) content,^[1] such as organ meats, Brewer's yeast, as well as pyrimide-rich foods such as beer. During digestion, RNA-rich foods are broken-down into ribosyl pyrimidines (cytidine and uridine), which are absorbed intact.^[1] In humans, dietary cytidine is converted into uridine, ^[2] which is probably the compound behind cytidine's metabolic effects.

[edit] References