Drug → Mechanism of Action

Zidovudine

Chain termination

Acyclovir

Chain terminator

Ara-C

Halts cell cycle

Didanosine

Chain termination

5-Flourouracil

Stops synthesis, replication, cell proliferation

Ethidium Bromide

Mutagen

Propidium Iodide

Mutagen

Doxorubicin

Inhibits DNA replication/transcription

Daunorubicin

Complex multi-ring structure that intercalates between base pairs of DNA to inhibit DNA replication and transcription

Actinomycin-D

Complex multi-ring structure that intercalates between base pairs of DNA to inhibit DNA replication and transcription

Quinolones

Inhibiting prokaryotic topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase)

Ciproflaxin

Inhibiting prokaryotic topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase)

Norfloxacin

Inhibit cell division in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria

Ciprofloxacin

Inhibit cell division in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria

Irinotecan

Inhibits topoisomerase activity

Etoposide

Inhibits topoisomerase activity

Genistein, quercetin, resveratrol

Inhibits topoisomerase activity

Gleevec

Inhibits ABL kinase

Xalkori

Inhibits ALK kinase

Cyclophosphamide

Adds alkyl group to bases, prevents strands of double helix from linking, causes breakage of DNA strands

Chlorambucil

Adds alkyl group to bases, prevents strands of double helix from linking, causes breakage of DNA strands

Nitrosurea

Adds alkyl group to bases, prevents strands of double helix from linking, causes breakage of DNA strands

Rifampicin

Selectively binds to beta-subunit of prokaryotic RNA Pol → prevents transcription elongation

Actinomycin D

Binds to DNA at translation initiation complex → prevents transcription elongation by RNA pol; also binds to DNA duplexes by intercalating between base pairs → interfering with DNA replication

Tetracycline

Prevents tRNA from binding at A site → prevents protein synthesis

Streptomycin

Alters 30S structure → translation errors

Chloramphenicol

Binds 50S → prevents peptide bond formation

Erythromycin

Binds 50S → blocks E site, inhibits elongation

Puromycin

Stops elongation of peptide chain

Cyclohexamide

Blocks translocation on ribosome → prevents tRNA and mRNA from moving through ribosome

Alpha-amanitin

Stops RNA polymerase

Diptheria toxin

Inactivates eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) → inability to elongate → no protein

Ricin

Inactivates 60S subunit (euk) → no protein