title: Endogenous kynurenines as targets for drug discovery and development.
abstract: The kynurenine pathway is the main pathway for tryptophan metabolism. It generates compounds that can modulate activity at glutamate receptors and possibly nicotinic receptors, in addition to some as-yet-unidentified sites. The pathway is in a unique position to regulate other aspects of the metabolism of tryptophan to neuroactive compounds, and also seems to be a key factor in the communication between the nervous and immune systems. It also has potentially important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation and tissue function in the periphery. As a result, the pathway presents a multitude of potential sites for drug discovery in neuroscience, oncology and visceral pathology.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. T.W.Stone@bio.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Trevor W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: L Gail
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Darlington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007737:Kynurenine; D014364:Tryptophan; D007736:Kynurenic Acid