Synthesis of 2-(3'-azido-and 3'-amino-3'-deoxy-$\beta$-D-ribofuranosyl)-thiazole-4- carboxamide

Inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a critical enzyme in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. This enzyme catalyzes the $NAD^+$-dependent oxidation of IMP to XMP, the rate limiting step in de novo biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides. Therefore, the biochemical effect of IMPDH inhibition in sensitive cell types is decrease in intracellular guanine nucleotide levels, and the decrease in cellular GTP and deoxy GTP pool levels blocks DNA and RNA synthesis in rapidly proliferating tumor cells. (omitted)