Combinatorial Chemistry - The Combinatorial Approach, Drug Targets, High-throughput Screening, Selex
compounds synthesis
Combinatorial chemistry is a technology for creating a multitude of different compounds by reacting different combinations of interchangeable chemical "building blocks." The compounds are then screened for their ability to carry out a specified function, most commonly to act as drugs to treat a disease. Combinatorial chemistry allows the rapid synthesis and testing of many related compounds, greatly speeding the pace of drug discovery. Automated synthesis and screening systems are key to this approach.
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There are two general approaches for finding the correct answer to a question (besides asking someone who knows). One way is to learn everything relevant to the topic and then to use your knowledge to arrive logically at the answer. Scientists, and most other people, almost always use this method. A second approach is to keep guessing until you've guessed right! This seems like a foolhardy …
Interaction of small molecules with target enzymes depends on shape and charge.
Combinatorial chemistry is most often used to synthesize "small molecules," in contrast to macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and polysaccharides, which are polymers containing long chains of monomer subunits. Because of their enormous size, macromolecules cannot easily enter cells, which i…
A library of a billion or more different molecules is only useful if the molecules can be quickly and economically screened for the desired function. "High-throughput" techniques have been developed that automate most of the steps required to combine the molecules with their targets and evaluate the extent of any reaction. Typically, the molecules are arrayed on a solid surface and t…
In addition to its use in drug development, combinatorial chemistry can be applied to other areas of biomedical research, such as the design of molecules for diagnosing medical conditions. Compounds for these applications can be larger than pharmaceutical compounds, and do not have to be designed to enter the body. Using a novel combinatorial chemistry method called in vitro selection or SELEX (sy…
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