DNA Synthesis Inhibitors
DNA synthesis inhibitors
Nucleic acid inhibitors are chemicals which inhibit the production of nucleic acids including both DNA and RNA. DNA and RNA inhibitors inhibit enzyme action in DNA replication in the same way as the topoisomerase inhibitors we discussed earlier.
Topoisomerase inhibitors (1) (10) are chemicals which interfere with the enzymes that allow DNA strands to separate and to re-join, a process that is required for the division of bacteria and without which DNA cannot effectively replicate. DNA helicase is the enzyme which allows the hydrogen bonds between strands to separate and DNA polymerase is the enzyme allowing nucleic acids to form bonds and it is these enzymes and some others that are inhibited by these chemicals. This …show more content…
Competitive inhibitors are molecules with a similar shape to the substrate which bind to the active site of the enzyme preventing the enzyme substrate complex from forming. For example, the antibiotic sulanilamide combines with the enzyme which is supposed to convert a chemical called para-aminobenzenoic acid into folic acid preventing the reaction that is useful to the bacterium. Inhibiting the formation of folic acid prevents the bacteria from growing as folic acid (12) is very important to many of the essential processes of the cell. Erroneous incorporation is the process by which molecules with very similar shape and structure to the nucleotides that form DNA and as a result may be incorporated into the DNA molecule. However because these do not form complementary base pairs with free nucleotides neither DNA replication nor transcription (the formation of RNA molecules from DNA) can …show more content…
This can occur due to the production of a chemical which alters the structure of the antibiotic (1), e.g. and enzyme that breaks down part of an antibiotic molecule. Alteration of the structure of the antibiotic target can also be the cause of the inactivation of an antibiotic. This change in structure means the antibiotic molecule can no longer bind to the bacteria and so cannot carry out its role. An alteration in structure can also occur in enzymes causing change to the shape of their active site. This means that an antibiotic that worked by competitive inhibition or erroneous incorporation would no longer have a complementary shape and so would be unable to bind to or inhibit the enzyme. It is also possible that a change to the pathway of a reaction or an increase in its rate would counteract or overwhelm the action of the
Nucleic acid inhibitors are chemicals which inhibit the production of nucleic acids including both DNA and RNA. DNA and RNA inhibitors inhibit enzyme action in DNA replication in the same way as the topoisomerase inhibitors we discussed earlier.
Topoisomerase inhibitors (1) (10) are chemicals which interfere with the enzymes that allow DNA strands to separate and to re-join, a process that is required for the division of bacteria and without which DNA cannot effectively replicate. DNA helicase is the enzyme which allows the hydrogen bonds between strands to separate and DNA polymerase is the enzyme allowing nucleic acids to form bonds and it is these enzymes and some others that are inhibited by these chemicals. This …show more content…
Competitive inhibitors are molecules with a similar shape to the substrate which bind to the active site of the enzyme preventing the enzyme substrate complex from forming. For example, the antibiotic sulanilamide combines with the enzyme which is supposed to convert a chemical called para-aminobenzenoic acid into folic acid preventing the reaction that is useful to the bacterium. Inhibiting the formation of folic acid prevents the bacteria from growing as folic acid (12) is very important to many of the essential processes of the cell. Erroneous incorporation is the process by which molecules with very similar shape and structure to the nucleotides that form DNA and as a result may be incorporated into the DNA molecule. However because these do not form complementary base pairs with free nucleotides neither DNA replication nor transcription (the formation of RNA molecules from DNA) can …show more content…
This can occur due to the production of a chemical which alters the structure of the antibiotic (1), e.g. and enzyme that breaks down part of an antibiotic molecule. Alteration of the structure of the antibiotic target can also be the cause of the inactivation of an antibiotic. This change in structure means the antibiotic molecule can no longer bind to the bacteria and so cannot carry out its role. An alteration in structure can also occur in enzymes causing change to the shape of their active site. This means that an antibiotic that worked by competitive inhibition or erroneous incorporation would no longer have a complementary shape and so would be unable to bind to or inhibit the enzyme. It is also possible that a change to the pathway of a reaction or an increase in its rate would counteract or overwhelm the action of the