Pharmacogenetics Flashcards
What are pharmacogenetics?
Study of variations in DNA sequences and drug response
The aim is to identify right drug and dose for each patient.
What is pharmacogenetics polymorphism?
Genetical differences in the we react to drugs.
What kind of markers can we observe to predict the reaction of a patient to a drug?
Minisatellite
Microsatellite
SNP
What is a minisatellite?
Tandem repeats of sequence that vary from 14 to 100 base pairs in length.
What is a microsatellite?
Short sequence of tandem repeats.
What is a SNP?
Single nucleotide polymorphism.
What are copy number variations?
Duplication and deletions
What are the consequences of polymorphism?
Responses to drugs vary
Disease susceptibility
In what way does polymorphism affect the response to drugs?
Toxicity and efficacy
What is Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT)?
Purine antimetabolite prodrug used in cancer chemotherapy
What is Azathioprine?
Precursor of 6MP and is used as an immunosuppressant drug
What is Methyltransferase?
Enzyme which methylates and
inactivates 6-mercaptopurine.
What is the process of Thiopurine Metabolism?
Azathioprine converted to 6-mercaptopurine.
Can become oxidised or add methyl to make it inactive.
Or it can become active 6-thioguanine nucleotides.
What is the function of 6-thioguanine nucleotide?
Active metabolites, incorporated into DNA and trigger apoptosis
What is used to add methyl and inactivate 6-mercaptopurine in thiopurine metabolism?
TPMT
How many types of TMPT are there?
3 groups with varying activity, homo and hetero.
What causes low levels of TPMT?
Due two SNPs which influence protein stability.
What are the clinical consequence of low TMPT?
– Increased thiopurine toxicity
– Homozygotes experience life-threatening myelosuppression
– Possibly improved survival
What are the clinical consequence of high TMPT?
– Some evidence of a decreased therapeutic effect
– Likely due to increased drug metabolism
What are Cytochromes P450?
Multigene family of enzymes that oxidise both drugs and other foreign compounds.
What do Cytochromes P450 need?
Requirement for NADPH and O2.
Where are Cytochromes P450 expressed?
Liver
What is the role of Cytochromes P450?
Most have a nonessential physiological role
What is important about Debrisoquine?
Some individuals are unable to metabolize it,
What is Debrisoquine?
Antihypertensive
What kind of trait is the inability to metabolize Debrisoquine?
Autosomal recessive trait
What is Debrisoquine metabolized by?
Metabolized by the cytochrome P450 CYP2D6
How many polymorphisms are there for CYP2D6?
Over 70
What are the CYP2D6 polymorphism are associated with poor metabolism?
- CYP2D6*3 allele
- CYP2D6*4 allele
- CYP2D6*5 allele
What kind of polymorphism is CYP2D6*3 allele?
A deletion on exon 5
What kind of polymorphism is CYP2D6*4 allele?
Changes the position of the splice position on intron 3/4
What kind of polymorphism is CYP2D6*5 allele?
Entire CYP2D6 gene deleted
What are CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers?
Individuals can have extra copies of the CYP2D6 gene adjacent to the wild-type CYP2D6, which means they have more enzymes and metabolise drugs faster.
How many extra copies do CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers?
2-13
What are Ethnic variations in PG polymorphisms?
Different racial groups have different frequencies of common pharmacogenetic polymorphisms
What is CYP2C9?
An enzyme protein.
What substrates does CYP2C9 work with?
S-warfarin
Phenytoin
NSAIDs