Answer :
Final answer:
Alkylating agents interfere with RNA and DNA synthesis by adding alkyl groups to DNA molecules, resulting in miscoding and disruption of DNA replication. Despite potential risks, they are used as antitumor drugs in cancer therapy, aiming to target rapidly dividing cancer cells.
Explanation:
Alkylating agents interfere with RNA and DNA synthesis. These drugs work by adding methyl or other alkyl groups onto molecules, such as guanine in DNA, which inhibits correct base pairing and causes a miscoding of DNA. This process ultimately disrupts the replication of DNA, either halting it completely or causing the production of non-functional DNA or RNA. Despite their risks, these agents are used therapeutically as anticancer treatments because they can be more damaging to rapidly dividing cancer cells than to normal cells.
These agents contrast with other types of medications such as some antibiotics like anthracyclines and dactinomycin that also bind to DNA and inhibit its functions, including RNA and DNA synthesis. These antibiotics interact with DNA through intercalation, strand breakage, or inhibition of enzymes like topoisomerase II.
Alkylating agents, in the context of cancer treatment, are considered important antitumor drugs, with some agents like doxorubicin and melphalan specifically used for this purpose. However, due to the high toxicity and potential to cause cancer themselves, these drugs must be used with care.
