Nucleic acids and associated processes

Nucleic acids and associated processes is a high-level classification used in pharmacological databases such as ChEMBL to categorize targets involved in the storage, replication, and expression of genetic information (Source: ChEMBL). This broad category encompasses essential cellular activities including DNA replication, repair, transcription of DNA into RNA, and the translation of RNA into functional proteins (Source: UniProt). It includes a wide array of molecular targets such as DNA and RNA polymerases, topoisomerases, helicases, and the ribosome, as well as the nucleic acids themselves. Drugs interacting with these processes are cornerstone treatments in oncology, where they exploit the rapid division of cancer cells, and in infectious diseases, where they target pathogen-specific replication machinery (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). However, because these processes are fundamental to all living cells, therapeutic agents in this class often face significant challenges regarding selectivity, leading to common side effects such as bone marrow suppression and potential long-term risks like secondary malignancies (Source: NIH).

Other names

DNA and RNA metabolismGenetic information processingNucleic acid metabolismNucleotide and nucleic acid processes

Drugs targeting these processes act through diverse mechanisms including the inhibition of DNA or RNA polymerases, interference with topoisomerase-mediated strand cleavage, intercalation between base pairs to disrupt structural integrity, and the use of antimetabolites to halt nucleotide synthesis or induce chain termination (Source: StatPearls, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery).