2'-Deoxyuridine is a pyrimidine nucleoside consisting of uracil linked to 2'-deoxyribose. It serves as an important intermediate and reagent in biochemical and pharmaceutical research. Primarily used in molecular biology for studying DNA synthesis, replication, and repair mechanisms, it acts as a substrate for enzymes such as thymidine kinase and uridine phosphorylase. It is also employed in the enzymatic production of deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP), a key precursor in thymidylate biosynthesis. Additionally, 2'-deoxyuridine is utilized in the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides, antiviral nucleoside analogs (such as idoxuridine), and other therapeutic compounds. Its role in research extends to investigating nucleotide metabolism, mutagenesis, and potential applications in anticancer and antiviral drug development.