Deoxycytidine triphosphate

Deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) is a cytidine nucleotide triphosphate that is used whenever DNA is synthesized, such as in the polymerase chain reaction. e.g.:

A chemical equation can be written that represents the process:


 * (DNA)n + dCTP ↔ (DNA)n-C + PPi

That is, dCTP has the PPi (pyrophosphate) cleaved off and the dCMP is incorporated into the DNA strand at the 3' end. Subsequent hydrolysis of the PPi drives the equilibrium of the reaction toward the right side, ie. incorporation of the nucleotide in the growing DNA chain.

It is stored at -20 degrees Celsius.