title: The genome as a drug target: sequence specific minor groove binding ligands.
abstract: The ability to target defined sequences on the DNA molecule would be of enormous benefit to the treatment of human disease. Towards this goal much research has been invested in examining the DNA binding and biological mechanisms of action of sequence selective minor groove binding ligands. These compounds act in a variety of ways to inhibit gene expression and DNA replication and also alter nuclear architecture. Concomitant with this, minor groove adducts formed by certain compounds are inefficiently removed by cellular DNA repair systems and are extremely cytotoxic. Additionally compounds targeting A.T rich DNA sequences have found clinical use in the treatment of particular parasitic infections.
authors.affiliation: Hygiene Institut, Abteilung Parasitólogie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Denny
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D004265:DNA Helicases