What is "cordycepin"

n. (context biochemistry organic compound English) A deoxy form of adenosine.

Cordycepin, or 3'-deoxyadenosine, is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, differing from the latter by the absence of the hydroxy group in the 3' position of its ribose part. It was initially extracted from the fungus Cordyceps militaris, but is now produced synthetically.

Because cordycepin is similar to adenosine, some enzymes cannot discriminate between the two. Therefore, it can participate in certain biochemical reactions (for example, be incorporated into an RNA molecule, thus causing the premature termination of its synthesis).

Cordycepin has displayed cytotoxicity against some leukemic cell lines in vitro, and at least one clinical trial of cordycepin as a leukemia treatment is in progress.

Cordycepin has been found to produce rapid, robust ketamine-like antidepressant effects in animal models of depression, and these effects, similarly to those of ketamine, are dependent on enhancement of AMPA receptor signaling.