2-Amino-1,9-dihydro-9-[[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl]-6H-purin-6-one; |2’-NDG; 2’-Nor-2’-deoxyguanosine; 9-(1,3-Dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine; BW 759; BW 759U; BW-B 759U; Biolf 62; DHPG; Denosine; Gancyclovir; Ganguard; Ganquard; HHEMG; Hydroxyacyclovir; Natclovir; RS 21592; Vitrasert

Ganciclovir (GCV) is a pro-drug nucleoside analog that is activated by phosphorylation. It is useful in the study of gene therapy in cancer research. Upon expression of a viral suicide gene encoding thymidine kinase, the non-toxic pro-drug is converted to a phosphorylated active analog and is incorporated into the DNA of replicating eukaryotic cells, causing death of the malignant dividing cell. The cell cycle is irreversibly arrested at the G2-M checkpoint. Gap junction involvement in the ganciclovir bystander effect has been studied. Ganciclovir has been used to study loss of telomeres and to evaluate sensitivity of viruses to antiviral treatments. Ganciclovir is used in molecular biology for selection against random recombination events when homologous recombination of a gene of interest is required.