During elongation of RNA or synthesis of DNA, nucleotides are joined in chains by chemically joining the 5’ phosphate group of one nucleotide to the 3’ hydroxyl group of the next nucleotide. Cordycepin triphosphate is similar in structure to the adenosine triphosphate hence is incorporated in elongation chain during transcription and replication. However, due to its lack of the 3’OH moiety (that is required for elongation), the replication or transcription is unduly terminated.