title: DNA polymerase beta (pol β) inhibitors: a comprehensive overview.
abstract: Base excision repair (BER) is the fundamental pathway responsible for the elimination of damaged DNA bases and repair of DNA single-strand breaks generated spontaneously or produced by DNA-damaging agents. Among the essential enzymes that are required to achieve the BER reaction is DNA polymerase beta (pol β), which has been regarded as a potential therapeutic target. More than 60 pol β-inhibitors have been identified so far; however, most of them are either not potent or not specific enough to become a drug. In this article we compile an essential knowledge base regarding the structures, the modes of inhibition and the activities of these pharmacologically interesting molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. kbarakat@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Khaled H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gajewski
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tuszynski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D019951:DNA Polymerase beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019951:DNA Polymerase beta