Dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor

Since folate is needed by rapidly dividing cells to make thymine, this effect may be used to therapeutic advantage.

For example, methotrexate is used as cancer chemotherapy because it can prevent neoplastic cells from dividing.

[3] Classes of small-molecules employed as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase include diaminoquinazoline and diaminopyrroloquinazoline, Most of the above specified inhibitors are structural analogues of the substrate dihydrofolate and bind to the active site of the enzyme.

Further, it has been recently shown that, in E. coli DHFR, allosteric site binders can inhibit the enzyme either uncompetitively or non-competitively.

The examples provided below are specific molecules belonging to one of the above-mentioned classes.