Abstract
The pharmacological properties of any drug are largely dependent on binding interactions with biomolecules. The investigation of such interactions is essential to gain some understanding of the mechanisms of drug action, and to determine which structural characteristics influence the pharmacological properties. Of particular interest are the interactions between anticancer agents and DNA, as DNA is considered to be the major cellular target for a large number of compounds that are effective in the treatment of various types of cancers. It has been reported that the binding of such drugs to DNA can inhibit cellular processes such as DNA replication and transcription, which are vital for the proliferation of cells. The inhibition or prevention of cell division is the primary objective for drug design as it most markedly affects rapidly dividing cells such as tumour cells, and ultimately prevents their spread throughout the body.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Metallointercalators: Synthesis and Techniques to Probe Their Interactions with Biomolecules |
Editors | Janice R. Aldrich-Wright |
Place of Publication | U.S. |
Publisher | Springer |
Pages | 69-100 |
Number of pages | 32 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783211990797 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783211094273 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |