Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 6: Problem 4

Alkylating agents are used in cancer chemotherapy to interfere with DNA biosynthesis or replication. Why can these be useful considering that normal cells also need DNA?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Alkylating agents are effective in cancer treatment because they target the DNA biosynthesis and replication, which happens frequently in cancer cells. While they also affect normal cells, the impact is less severe as normal cells divide slower, allowing for DNA repair before replication.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding DNA replication and cell division

In order for cells to divide, they must first replicate their DNA. This process is universal, meaning, it occurs in every cell in our bodies. DNA replication is tightly regulated and any errors during this process can lead to cell death or the formation of cancerous cells.
02

Cancer cell proliferation

Cancer cells are characterised by their ability to evade normal checkpoints and controls that limit cell division and lifespan. Because of this, they divide and replicate their DNA much more frequently than normal cells.
03

Role of alkylating agents

Alkylating agents are drugs that can damage the DNA of cells, which prevents them from replicating. These drugs work by adding an alkyl group to the guanine base of the DNA molecule, which prevents the strands of the DNA helix from separating, a necessary step in DNA replication.
04

Effects on normal and cancer cells

Though alkylating agents can damage all cells, rapidly dividing cells, like cancer cells, are more prone to their effects as they have less time to repair the damaged DNA before replication. Conversely, most normal cells in our body are either not actively dividing or are doing so at a much slower rate, allowing for the DNA repair mechanisms to correct the damage before replication takes place thus minimizing the detrimental effects of these agents.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Draw a mechanism for the intrastrand cross linkage of two guanines by busulfan \((6.33, n=4)\).

Draw a mechanism for the formation of a 1,4 -benzene diradical from an activated enediyne (Bergman rearrangement).

Draw a mechanism for the topoisomerase-catalyzed cleavage of DNA that gives the free \(5^{\prime}\)-end.

Draw a mechanism for how kedarcidin (6) might act as an antitumor agent (a reducing agent is required).

It was proposed that a common mechanism for antibiotics might be hydroxyl radical oxidation of guanine to 7,8 -dihydro-8-oxoguanine (7), which is enzymatically excised from DNA and replaced by guanine; however, when too many guanines are oxidized, DNA strand breakage occurs, killing the cell. Draw a mechanism for how guanine could be oxidized by hydroxyl radicals to 7 .
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free