O6-Benzylguanine

O6-Benzylguanine is a synthetic derivative of guanine, a type of nucleotide, that is used as a chemotherapy agent. It is a substrate for the enzyme O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), which repairs DNA damage caused by alkylating agents. By binding to AGT, O6-benzylguanine inhibits the enzyme's activity, allowing the DNA damage caused by alkylating agents to persist and leading to cell death.

Mechanism of Action

O6-Benzylguanine acts as a potent inhibitor of the DNA repair enzyme O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). AGT is a protein that repairs DNA damage caused by alkylating agents, which are commonly used in chemotherapy. By binding to AGT, O6-benzylguanine prevents the enzyme from repairing DNA damage, leading to cell death.

Clinical Use

O6-Benzylguanine is used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to treat certain types of cancer. It is typically administered intravenously.

Side Effects

Like all chemotherapy drugs, O6-Benzylguanine can cause side effects. These may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. More serious side effects can include low blood cell counts, which can lead to an increased risk of infection, bleeding, and anemia.

See Also

• Chemotherapy
• DNA repair
• Alkylating agent
• Guanine

References

• National Cancer Institute. O6-Benzylguanine. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/o6-benzylguanine
• PubChem. O6-Benzylguanine. Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/O6-Benzylguanine

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