Inhibitors (genetics)

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

Inhibitors can be divided according to several criteria:

preferentially acting on synthesis DNA
- Mitomycin, Streptonigrin, Edein...
  - 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.
preferentially acting on RNA synthesis by interacting with DNA
- Actinomycin, Anthracyclines...
  - Anthracyclines: daunamycin − intercalation into the DNA chain, Olivomycin − binds to DNA.
acting on RNA synthesis by interacting with RNA-polymerases
- Rifamycins, Streptolygidine...
  - Rifamycins − bind to the beta subunit of bacterial polymerase, Amanitins react with eukaryotic type II polymerases.
acting at the precursor or regulatory level
- Tubercidin, a quinone antibiotic...
  - 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.

Links[edit | edit source]

OTOVÁ, Berta. Medical Biology and Genetics : 1st part. 1. edition. Karolinum, 2009. ISBN 978-80-246-1594-3.