wˌɛn dˈiː ˌɛntˌiːpˈiːz ɑːɹ dᵻplˈiːɾᵻd ðə sˈɛl tɹˈaɪz tʊ ɐbsˈoːɹb mˈoːɹ bˌʌt ɪf dˌiːdˈiː ˈaɪ, ˌeɪzˌiːtˈiː ɔːɹ dˌiːdˈiː sˈiː ɪz pɹˈɛzənt ɪɾ ɐbsˈoːɹbz ðæt dˈuː tə ðə sˌɪmɪlˈæɹᵻɾi, ðə nˈɛt ɪfˈɛkt ɪz mˈoːɹ dˌiːdˈiː ˈaɪ, ˌeɪzˌiːtˈiː ɔːɹ dˌiːdˈiː sˈiː ˈɛntɚz ðə sˈɛl.
When dNTPs are depleted the cell tries to absorb more but if ddI, AZT or ddC is present it absorbs that due to the similarity, the net effect is more ddI, AZT or ddC enters the cell.