Exploring drug design methods with thymidylate synthase

摘要

Thymidylate synthase provides an essential function for the life of cells. It provides the sole de novo pathway for synthesis of deoxythymidine monophosphate dTMP, DNA base. Thus all organisms have thymidylate synthases with the exception with 1 or 2 algal species that obtain thymidine solely by salvage pathways. Thus thymidylate synthase is a target for antiproliferative drug design aimed at pathogenic organisms in which selectivity versus host strains is important and as an antiproliferative in cancer.