Multitarget drugs: an epigenetic epiphany

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    Abstract

    Epigenetics refers to changes in a biological phenotype that are not due to an underlying change in genotype. In eukaryotes, epigenetics involves a set of chemical modifications of the DNA and the histone proteins in nucleosomes. These dynamic changes are carried out by enzymes and modulate protein–protein and protein–nucleic acid interactions to determine whether specific genes are expressed or silenced. Both the epigenetic enzymes and recognition domains are currently important drug discovery targets, particularly for the treatment of cancer. This review summarizes the progress of epigenetic targets that have reached a clinical stage: DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases, lysine methyltransferases, lysine demethylases, and bromodomains; this is followed by a comprehensive survey of multitarget drugs that have included an epigenetic target as one of their mechanisms of action.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1227-1241
    Number of pages15
    JournalChemMedChem
    Volume11
    Issue number12
    Early online date18 Feb 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2016

    Keywords

    • cancer
    • dual inhibitors
    • epigenetics
    • histone deacetylases
    • multitarget drugs

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