TYMS

TYMS (thymidylate synthase) is a crucial enzyme in the DNA synthesis process, a dimeric protein composed of two identical subunits located on chromosome 18. Its primary function is to catalyze the conversion of deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (FH4) into deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP), a reaction that is vital for cellular DNA replication and repair. TYMS plays a central role in cell growth and proliferation, and its expression level is often elevated in tumor cells, closely associated with tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Consequently, TYMS has become an important target for anticancer drugs. Chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) inhibit TYMS activity, preventing DNA synthesis and thereby suppressing tumor cell growth. Research on TYMS not only aids in understanding cellular biological processes but also provides new avenues for the development of anticancer drugs.