Compound that inhibits a normal metabolic process, acting as an analogue of a normal metabolite. Some are useful in chemotherapy of cancer, others are naturally occurring toxins in foods, frequently causing vitamin deficiency diseases by inhibiting the normal metabolism of the vitamin.
A substance which can replace a cell metabolism, but which is not active.
A compound similar to a naturally occurring metabolite, but which interferes with metabolic processing because it is not identical in all respects to the metabolite.
The general term for drugs that impair function in harmful cells and microorganisms by antagonizing or replacing normal metabolic substrates in those cells. Certain anti-infectious and antineoplastic agents function as antimetabolites.
A drug that interferes with the normal metabolic processes within cells by combining with the enzymes responsible for them. Some drugs used in the treatment of cancer, e.g. fluorouracil, methotrexate, and mercaptopurine, are antimetabolites that prevent cell growth by interfering with enzyme reactions essential for nucleic acid synthesis. Side-effects of antimetabolites can be severe, involving blood cell disorders and digestive disturbances.
A group of drugs used in the treatment of certain forms of malignant disease. Chemically, they closely resemble substances (or metabolites) which are essential for the life and growth of cells. Antimetabolites are incorporated into new nuclear material in the cell or combine irreversibly with essential cellular enzymes, thus disrupting normal cellular division and causing death of the cell. There is now a range of antimetabolites including cytarabine, methotrexate, fluorouracil and mercaptopurine.
A substance that opposes the action of or replaces a metabolite and is structurally similar to it. Certain antibiotics are effective because they act as anti metabolites.
An antimetabolite is an immunosuppressive drug that disrupts a cell’s utilization of a metabolite, which is a byproduct of regular metabolic processes. By doing so, antimetabolites impede the growth and division of cells.