unit 2b: pharmaceutical chemistry

Question 1

drugs

Answer 1

substances which alter biochemical processes in the body

Question 2

medicines

Answer 2

drugs which have a beneficial effect

Question 3

medicines contain

Answer 3

the drug, fillers, sweeteners, coatings

Question 4

drugs work by

Answer 4

binding to receptors, the shape and size of the drug allows it to fit into the receptor binding site. interactions, which can be intermolecular forces and/ or ionic bonds, are formed between them and the biological response is triggered

Question 5

receptors

Answer 5

specific protein molecules on the surface of a cell or specific enzymes that catalyse reactions within the cell

Question 6

classification

Answer 6

drugs that act on receptors can be classified as agonists or antagonists

Question 7

agonists

Answer 7

mimic the natural compound and bind to the receptor to produce a similar response

Question 8

antagonists

Answer 8

prevent the natural compound from binding to the receptor, it blocks the natural response from occurring

Question 9

enzyme inhibitors

Answer 9

drugs that act on enzymes by binding to the active site of the enzyme and blocking the reaction it catalyses

Question 10

pharmacophores

Answer 10

the part of the molecule which allows it to form interactions with a receptor binding site or an enzyme active site, it usually consists of different functional groups correctly orientated with respect to each other

Question 11

the structure of pharmacophores can be identified by

Answer 11

comparing the structure of drugs with similar pharmacological activity

Question 12

why could two molecules bind to the same receptors

Answer 12

similar structural features