Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 15, Issue 1, 2015

Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides are signalling molecules acting in all tissues and organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). A wide variety of effects, exerted by ecto-purines, requires that their levels, and ATP in particular, must be precisely controlled. Under physiological conditions, concentration of ecto-purines is regulated by a complex cascade of ecto-enzymes, including ecto-NTPDases (nucleoside triph Read More

Ecto-nucleotidases are nucleotide metabolizing enzymes that are divided into four different families; nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases), ecto-5′-nucleotidase (ecto-5′-NT), nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (NPPs), and alkaline phosphatases (APs). These enzymes are responsible for the hydrolysis of nucleotidases (nucleoside 5′-triphosphates, 5′-diphosphates and 5′-monophosphates). Ecto Read More

Ecto-5’-nucleotidase (e5NT) hydrolyzes extracellular nucleotides and contributes to purinergic signaling. e5NT is implicated in a variety of pathological states including immunological diseases and cancer and represents an emerging drug target. Herein, we review structural and computational studies that have helped to better understand ligand binding characteristics and mechanistic features of the enzyme and Read More

Alkaline phosphatase (AP, EC 3.1.3.1.) is a metalloenzyme that belongs to a family of ectonucleotidases. The other members of ectonucleotidase family are ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (E-NTPDases), ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (E-NPPs) and ecto-5-nucleotidase (e5NT). These ectonucleotidases are responsible for hydrolyzing extracellular nucleotides to nucleosides including a Read More

Modern research in drug discovery from medicinal plants involves a multidimensional approach combining botanical, phytochemical, biochemical combinatorial chemistry and bioassay-guided fractionation approaches. Natural sources continue to provide an alternative as pharmacological leads against various devastating diseases such as diabetes, CVD, cancer etc. Nowadays, there is enormous requirement of safe and eff Read More

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides and nerve agents are responsible for suicidal and accidental poisonings. The acute toxicity of nerve agents leads to progressive inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by phosphylation of serine residue at the active site of gorge. The recent massive destruction of Syrian civilians by nerve gas sarin, has again renewed the research attention of global science fraternity towards Read More

Cancer has become a serious concern in public health. Harmful side effects and multidrug resistance of traditional chemotherapy have prompted urgent needs for novel anticancer drugs or therapeutic approaches. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) have become promising molecules for novel anticancer agents because of their unique mechanism and several extraordinary properties. Most α-helical ACPs target the cell membra Read More