Question

The enzymes involved in dTTP synthesis have been a target for many anti-cancer and immunosuppressant drugs. Why?

Answer 1

Deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) is a precursor for the synthesis of both the DNA and RNA. The cell division rate in cancerous cell is too much higher than the normal cells. We all know that cell division needs DNA synthesis. So if we can reduce the amount of dTTP, then the DNA synthesis will be hampered. It can be possible by inhibiting the dTTP synthesising enzyme. For this reason anti-cancer drugs targets the dTTP synthesising enzymes.

Cell mediated immunity is mediated by T cells and humoral immunity is mediated by B cells. Both of them have shorter life span. So, the cell division and differentiation rate of immune cells are much higher than the normal body cells. So if we can stop the cell division of immune precursor cells then the number of the immune cells will be lower also. The presence of low number of immune cells in the body is responsible for the suppression of immunity of the body. So the immunosupresent drugs target the enzymes involved in dTTP synthesis.