Natural and synthetic biologically active dimeric molecules: anticancer agents, anti-HIV agents, steroid derivatives and opioid antagonists.
Symmetry plays a crucial role in a variety of biological processes. For instance, many protein receptors, upon activation, dimerize to its active form and subsequently produce its biological action. Hence, there is a renewal of curiosity for the synthesis of dimeric molecules (or bivalent ligands) capable, not only to interact with specific biologic receptors, but also to induce greater biological responses than the corresponding monomeric counterpart. This is a vast and diverse theme of research. Hence, this review will discuss recent developments into this flourishing research field and will focus mainly into four specific topics namely dimeric 1) anticancer agents, 2) anti-HIV, 3) steroid derivatives and 4) opioid antagonists.
Bérubé
Gervais
G
Groupe de Recherche en Biopathologies Cellulaires et Moléculaires, Département de Chimie-Biologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada, G9A 5H7. Gervais.Berube@uqtr.ca
D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D008024:Ligands; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D013256:Steroids