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| Cytosine | |
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| IUPAC name | 4-amino-3H-pyrimidin-2-one |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| PubChem | |
| MeSH | |
| SMILES | C1=C(NC(=O)N=C1)N |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C4H5N3O |
| Molar mass | 111.102 |
| Melting point | 320 - 325°C (decomp) |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references | |
Cytosine is one of the 5 main nucleobases used in storing and transporting genetic information within a cell in the nucleic acids DNA and RNA.
In DNA and RNA, cytosine is paired with guanine. However, it is unstable, and can change into uracil. This can lead to a point mutation if not repaired. The DNA repair enzymes, such as uracil glycosylase, cuts uracil in DNA.
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