DNA polymerase (DNA Pol) (DNA Pol)

DNA polymerase is a fundamental enzyme responsible for the synthesis of DNA molecules from nucleoside triphosphates (StatPearls, 2023). It functions by reading an existing DNA template and catalyzing the addition of complementary nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing DNA strand (UniProt, 2024). In the context of therapeutic intervention, the active site of the replicating DNA polymerase is targeted by various antimetabolites and antiviral agents (PubMed, 2022). These drugs, often nucleoside or nucleotide analogs, mimic natural substrates to inhibit the enzyme's activity or cause premature chain termination, effectively halting cell division or viral replication (NIH, 2023). This mechanism is central to the treatment of numerous cancers and viral infections, such as herpes simplex and HIV (PubChem, 2024). However, the high conservation of DNA polymerases across species and cell types necessitates careful drug design to minimize off-target effects on host mitochondrial DNA or healthy proliferating cells (Wikipedia, 2024). Inhibition of this target can lead to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, making it a cornerstone of chemotherapy and infectious disease management (StatPearls, 2023). Notable examples include acyclovir for herpesviruses and cytarabine for hematologic malignancies (PubMed, 2022).

Other names

DNA-directed DNA polymeraseDNA nucleotidyltransferaseReplicating DNA polymeraseDNA polymerase active site

Inhibition of DNA synthesis through competitive binding at the active site or incorporation into the growing DNA strand leading to chain termination (StatPearls, 2023; NIH, 2023).