Anticancer Drug Discovery Targeting DNA Hypermethylation

Authors: Yu, Niefang; Wang, Mingrong

Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 15, Number 14, June 2008 , pp. 1350-1375(26)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are important regulators of gene transcription and their roles in carcinogenesis have been a topic of considerable interest in the last few years. Diverse classes of chemical compounds including nucleotide analogues, adenosine analogues, aminobenzoic derivatives, polyphenols, hydrazines, phthalides, disulfides and antisenses are being discovered and evaluated as DNMT inhibitors targeting DNA hypermethylation. Among them, 5-Azacytidine 5 and Decitabine 6 were launched recently. Several other compounds are under clinical trials. Some of these compounds were discovered from structure-based drug design. These compounds exert their DNA methylation inhibitory by different mechanisms. This review will present a brief account of various DNA methyltransferases and their biological functions, with focus on actuality of design and synthesis of various inhibitors of DNA hypermethylation as anticancer drugs.

Keywords: Epigenetics; DNA methylation; DNA hypermethylation Inhibitors; Drug discovery; Anticancer drugs

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986708784567653

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.

Publication date: 2008-06-01

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Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in medicinal chemistry and rational drug design. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.