PHAR 1
What is Pharmacology?
· study of how chemical agents (drugs) can influence the function of living systems
What does Pharmacodynamics cover?
'what the drug does to the body'
What is Pharmacokinetics?
'what the body does to the drug'
Where is the euphoric 'high' effect of cocaine produced?
dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens
What are the 4 types of drug target proteins?
• receptors
• enzymes
• ion channels
• carrier proteins
What is the drug target interaction of aspirin?
Binds to 'enzyme' cyclooxygenase and blocks the production of prostaglandins
What is the drug target interaction of local anaesthetic?
• blocks sodium 'ion channels'
, • prevents nerve conduction
What is the drug target interaction of prozac (anti-depressant)?
• blocks serotonin 'carrier proteins'
• prevents serotonin being removed from the synapse
What is the drug target interaction of nicotine?
Binds to and activates the nicotinic acetylcholine 'receptor'
How can drugs act on targets?
• enhance activation of the target (stimulate an effect)
• or prevent activation of the target (block an effect from being produced)
What is required for a drug to be an effective therapeutic agent?
· must show a high degree of specificity for a particular drug target
Why is it difficult to design a drug that only binds to one target?
Many drugs are and chemicals are structurally similar
· E.g. 3 endogenously produced chemicals: dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin
What is the structure of dopamine?
• contains a catechol structure (benzene ring with 2 hydroxyl side groups)
- with one amine group attached via an ethyl side chain
What is Pharmacology?
· study of how chemical agents (drugs) can influence the function of living systems
What does Pharmacodynamics cover?
'what the drug does to the body'
What is Pharmacokinetics?
'what the body does to the drug'
Where is the euphoric 'high' effect of cocaine produced?
dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens
What are the 4 types of drug target proteins?
• receptors
• enzymes
• ion channels
• carrier proteins
What is the drug target interaction of aspirin?
Binds to 'enzyme' cyclooxygenase and blocks the production of prostaglandins
What is the drug target interaction of local anaesthetic?
• blocks sodium 'ion channels'
, • prevents nerve conduction
What is the drug target interaction of prozac (anti-depressant)?
• blocks serotonin 'carrier proteins'
• prevents serotonin being removed from the synapse
What is the drug target interaction of nicotine?
Binds to and activates the nicotinic acetylcholine 'receptor'
How can drugs act on targets?
• enhance activation of the target (stimulate an effect)
• or prevent activation of the target (block an effect from being produced)
What is required for a drug to be an effective therapeutic agent?
· must show a high degree of specificity for a particular drug target
Why is it difficult to design a drug that only binds to one target?
Many drugs are and chemicals are structurally similar
· E.g. 3 endogenously produced chemicals: dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin
What is the structure of dopamine?
• contains a catechol structure (benzene ring with 2 hydroxyl side groups)
- with one amine group attached via an ethyl side chain
