Thanks. Good thinking about the possible mechanisms for a drug.
I only know of a few general mechanisms for drugs:
1) activate a receptor directly (as you say, this seems like something that evolution could possibly tweak). However, if there are other receptors elsewhere, then it’s possible that the chemical messenger reached by evolution will hit them all, whereas a synthetic compound could be more selective (e.g. SkQ1 is more targeted than anything we naturally produce and seems helpful).
2) block a receptor by partially occupying its jigsaw gaps (metaphorically)
3) act as a specific toxin, or react with another compound, consuming or destroying the target (e.g. chemotherapy—it seems like they’re going to be able to biopsy, sequence the particular cancer gene signature, and create a toxin just for that)
4) change something about the coarse chemical environment (acidity, osmality, etc.) to slow/increase a particular reaction
5) act as a virus, modifying DNA of all or specific cells (someday, maybe)
That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure there are tons more. “receptor” is a pretty abstract concept.
Thanks. Good thinking about the possible mechanisms for a drug.
I only know of a few general mechanisms for drugs:
1) activate a receptor directly (as you say, this seems like something that evolution could possibly tweak). However, if there are other receptors elsewhere, then it’s possible that the chemical messenger reached by evolution will hit them all, whereas a synthetic compound could be more selective (e.g. SkQ1 is more targeted than anything we naturally produce and seems helpful).
2) block a receptor by partially occupying its jigsaw gaps (metaphorically)
3) act as a specific toxin, or react with another compound, consuming or destroying the target (e.g. chemotherapy—it seems like they’re going to be able to biopsy, sequence the particular cancer gene signature, and create a toxin just for that)
4) change something about the coarse chemical environment (acidity, osmality, etc.) to slow/increase a particular reaction
5) act as a virus, modifying DNA of all or specific cells (someday, maybe)
That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure there are tons more. “receptor” is a pretty abstract concept.