2-Amino-2-cyanoacetamide, a purine derivative with a diatomic molecule, has been shown to inhibit cancer cells in animals. It has been shown to inhibit the replication of plague virus, an RNA virus that causes encephalitis and other diseases in humans. The nitrogen atom on the molecule is responsible for its transport properties, including intestinal uptake and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.2-Amino-2-cyanoacetamide also inhibits the activity of amide hydrolase, an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of peptides into amino acids. This process results in reduced protein synthesis, which leads to cell death.
