Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
doi:10.22028/D291-27507
Title: | Small Molecule Catalysts with Therapeutic Potential |
Author(s): | Ney, Yannick Nasim, Muhammad Jawad Kharma, Ammar Youssef, Lama A. Jacob, Claus |
Language: | English |
Title: | Molecules |
Volume: | 23 |
Issue: | 4 |
Publisher/Platform: | MDPI |
Year of Publication: | 2018 |
Free key words: | catalysis cellular thiolstat drug design enzymes |
DDC notations: | 540 Chemistry |
Publikation type: | Journal Article |
Abstract: | Catalysts are employed in many areas of research and development where they combine high efficiency with often astonishing selectivity for their respective substrates. In biology, biocatalysts are omnipresent. Enzymes facilitate highly controlled, sophisticated cellular processes, such as metabolic conversions, sensing and signalling, and are prominent targets in drug development. In contrast, the therapeutic use of catalysts per se is still rather limited. Recent research has shown that small molecule catalytic agents able to modulate the redox state of the target cell bear considerable promise, particularly in the context of inflammatory and infectious diseases, stroke, ageing and even cancer. Rather than being “active” on their own in a more traditional sense, such agents develop their activity by initiating, promoting, enhancing or redirecting reactions between biomolecules already present in the cell, and their activity therefore depends critically on the predisposition of the target cell itself. Redox catalysts, for instance, preferably target cells with a distinct sensitivity towards changes in an already disturbed redox balance and/or increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Indeed, certain transition metal, chalcogen and quinone agents may activate an antioxidant response in normal cells whilst at the same time triggering apoptosis in cancer cells with a different pre-existing “biochemical redox signature” and closer to the internal redox threshold. In pharmacy, catalysts therefore stand out as promising lead structures, as sensor/effector agents which are highly effective, fairly selective, active in catalytic, i.e., often nanomolar concentrations and also very flexible in their structural design. |
DOI of the first publication: | 10.3390/molecules23040765 |
Link to this record: | urn:nbn:de:bsz:291--ds-275073 hdl:20.500.11880/28757 http://dx.doi.org/10.22028/D291-27507 |
ISSN: | 1420-3049 |
Date of registration: | 20-Feb-2020 |
Faculty: | NT - Naturwissenschaftlich- Technische Fakultät |
Department: | NT - Pharmazie |
Professorship: | NT - Prof. Dr. Claus Jacob |
Collections: | SciDok - Der Wissenschaftsserver der Universität des Saarlandes |
Files for this record:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
molecules-23-00765.pdf | 12,19 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License