Hypomethylating agent
Hypomethylating agent
Hypomethylating agents (pronunciation: hypo-meth-uh-lay-ting ay-gents) are a class of drugs that are used to treat certain types of cancer. They work by inhibiting the process of methylation, which is a chemical reaction that occurs in the body's cells.
Etymology
The term "hypomethylating agent" is derived from the Greek prefix "hypo-", meaning "under" or "less than", and the term "methylation", which refers to the addition of a methyl group to a molecule.
Mechanism of action
Hypomethylating agents work by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme called DNA methyltransferase, which is responsible for adding methyl groups to DNA. This process, known as DNA methylation, is a key mechanism that cells use to control gene expression. By inhibiting DNA methylation, hypomethylating agents can alter the expression of genes in cancer cells, which can slow or stop their growth.
Examples
Examples of hypomethylating agents include azacitidine and decitabine, which are used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes, a group of disorders caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells.
Related terms
- Epigenetics: The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.
- DNA methylation: A biochemical process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule.
- Methyl group: An alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms — CH3.
- DNA methyltransferase: An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to DNA.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hypomethylating agent
- Wikipedia's article - Hypomethylating agent
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