Inhibitors (genetics)

Substances that generally affect (inhibit) transcription, translation, and thus cell division.

Inhibitors can be divided according to several criteria:


 * 1) preferentially acting on synthesis DNA
 * 2) * Mitomycin, Streptonigrin, Edein...
 * 3) ** main alkylating agents (bonding to N7 guanine forms a covalent bond between both chains). Mitomycin acts on the G1 phase (blocks mitosis). Streptonigrin acts on S phase. Phleomycin binds to thymine. Bleomycin cleaves the chains of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules, Neocarcinostatin acts on replication enzymes.
 * 4) preferentially acting on RNA synthesis by interacting with DNA
 * 5) * Actinomycin, Anthracyclines...
 * 6) ** Anthracyclines: daunamycin − intercalation into the DNA chain, Olivomycin − binds to DNA.
 * 7) acting on RNA synthesis by interacting with RNA-polymerases
 * 8) * Rifamycins, Streptolygidine...
 * 9) ** Rifamycins − bind to the beta subunit of bacterial polymerase, Amanitins react with eukaryotic type II polymerases.
 * 10) acting at the precursor or regulatory level
 * 11) * Tubercidin, a quinone antibiotic...
 * 12) ** Tubercidin − inhibits RNA and DNA and proteosynthesis. Cordycepin terminates RNA synthesis (it lacks a 3'OH group). Myxophenolic acids interfere with guanine synthesis. Azaserine and DON are glutamine analogues (inhibits purine synthesis). Quinone antibiotics affect the phosphorylation of RNA precursors.

Related Articles

 * Transcription factors
 * Translation in eukaryotes
 * Translation in prokaryotes