Enzymes and Drug Discovery Overview

Study Notes

Enzymes and Drug Discovery

Enzymes are crucial components in metabolic pathways.
Understanding enzyme function and regulation is fundamental in drug development.
Scientists collaborate to design drugs.

Example Drugs and Their Targets

Statins reduce cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that synthesizes cholesterol.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) inhibits cyclooxygenase, an enzyme involved in fever and inflammation, although its exact mechanism is not fully understood.
A drug's target is the specific molecule it acts upon.

Drug Discovery Process

Identifying a drug target is a major challenge in drug discovery.
Drug targets are identified through laboratory research.
Understanding how the target acts inside cells and how disease affects reactions is crucial.
Drug design involves chemists and biologists collaborating to synthesize molecules that either block or activate target reactions.
Potential drugs undergo numerous tests (in vitro to clinical trials) before FDA approval.

Enzyme Cofactors and Coenzymes

Many enzymes require specific helper molecules (non-protein) for optimal function.
Binding can be temporary (ionic/hydrogen bonds) or permanent (covalent bonds).
Cofactors are inorganic ions (iron, magnesium).
Coenzymes are organic molecules (carbon and hydrogen based).
Coenzymes participate in reactions without being changed and are recycled.
Vitamins are the source of coenzymes. Some are direct coenzymes, while others are precursors.
Vitamin C is a direct coenzyme for certain enzymes involved in collagen production.
Enzyme function is influenced by cofactor/coenzyme availability, which can be affected by diet or organismal production.

Description

This quiz explores the vital role enzymes play in drug discovery and development. It covers enzyme functions, specific drugs and their targets, and the intricate drug discovery process. Test your knowledge on how scientists design and test new therapeutics.