DNA AS A TARGET.

DNA has served as the target for anticancer drug design in the majority of clinically active drugs in use today. In this paper, a direct use of DNA as the goal is discussed with coverage of various alkylating agents and inorganic complexes. This section provides a number of examples of the metabolic processing of drugs. Such processing can serve to detoxify otherwise active compounds or generate cytotoxins selectively from inactive precursors. In addition, a less direct approach is also covered. The conversion of ribose to deoxyribose is the first committed step in DNA biosynthesis. This bottleneck is under the control of the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. Thus it is the focus of considerable attention by chemists and biochemists alike at present.