Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Chemical Actions and Uses > Pharmacologic Actions > Molecular Mechanisms of Action Terms and Definitions




Molecular Mechanisms of Action

Medical Definition: Activities at the molecular level of exogenous compounds affecting normal biochemical pathways, including the actions of PROTEINS; CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS; NEUROTRANSMITTERS; and inhibitors.
Guide Notes: not used for indexing or cataloging
Molecular Mechanisms of Action Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Alkylating Agents - Highly reactive chemicals that introduce alkyl radicals into biologically active molecules and thereby prevent their proper functioning. Many are used as antineoplastic agents, but most are very toxic, with carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and immunosuppressant actions. They have also been used as components in poison gases.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Antimetabolites - Drugs that are chemically similar to naturally occurring metabolites, but differ enough to interfere with normal metabolic pathways. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p2033)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Chelating Agents - Organic chemicals that form two or more coordination bonds with a central metal ion. Heterocyclic rings are formed with the central metal atom as part of the ring. Some biological systems form metal chelates, e.g., the iron-binding porphyrin group of hemoglobin and the magnesium-binding chlorophyll of plants. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed) They are used chemically to remove ions from solutions, medicinally against microorganisms, to treat metal poisoning, and in chemotherapy protocols.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Enzyme Activators - Compounds or factors that act on a specific enzyme to increase its activity.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Enzyme Inhibitors - Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Enzyme Reactivators - Compounds which restore enzymatic activity by removing an inhibitory group bound to the reactive site of the enzyme.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Free Radical Scavengers - Substances that influence the course of a chemical reaction by ready combination with free radicals. Among other effects, this combining activity protects pancreatic islets against damage by cytokines and prevents myocardial and pulmonary perfusion injuries.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition HIV Fusion Inhibitors - Inhibitors of the fusion of HIV to host cells, preventing viral entry.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Ionophores - Chemical agents that increase the permeability of biological or artificial lipid membranes to specific ions. Most ionophores are relatively small organic molecules that act as mobile carriers within membranes or coalesce to form ion permeable channels across membranes. Many are antibiotics, and many act as uncoupling agents by short-circuiting the proton gradient across mitochondrial membranes.

Molecular Mechanisms of Action Medical Definitions and Terms

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