BrdU is a thymidine analog used to detect:
BrdU, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, is synthetic halogenated analog of thymidine where methyl group at 5 position replaced by bromine atom similar in size allowing Watson-Crick pairing with adenine during DNA synthesis. During S phase, DNA polymerases incorporate BrdU triphosphate from nucleotide pool into nascent strand in place of thymidine without halting polymerase at low micromolar concentrations. Incorporated BrdU detectable by specific anti-BrdU monoclonal antibodies after DNA denaturation exposes epitope, or by mass spectrometry. Assay quantifies fraction of cells actively replicating genom
Ref: Gratzner HG Science 1982 BrdU thymidine analog DNA replication detection; Alberts MBoC Ch.17 DNA synthesis S phase BrdU incorporation.
