SAN DIEGO, June 22 (UPI) -- U.S. chemists have identified a class of molecules that could be used to treat diseases such as cancer, arthritis and heart disease.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, used model compounds in drug design to help identify compounds that inhibit certain enzymes overactive in arthritis and used by cancer cells to migrate and spread through connective tissues.
Known inhibitors for these enzymes tend to be toxic, cannot be taken orally, or are rapidly metabolized, said chemist Seth Cohen of the university's Division of Physical Sciences.
Using computer programs to determine which compounds could be potential inhibitors, the chemists tested 11 new compounds that were chemically similar but slightly different to the known inhibitors. All turned out to be effective inhibitors and were less likely to produce unwanted side effects, Cohen said.
Enzymes have an active site with a distinct shape and chemical composition where molecules bind and react. These active sites also contain a zinc ion that provides the right environment for chemcial reactions to occur. The inhibitors bind to the zinc ions to stop the enzymes, known as MMPs.
The drugs should target specific MMPs in order to avoid unwanted side effects.
