Biological target

A target ( English for " target " ) is a biomolecule to which a drug can bind. The agent unfolds exactly by its effect. Active compounds can be, for example drugs, so that targets play an important role in drug research. When targets are frequently to target proteins, such as an enzyme, receptor or ion channel.

The identification of targets and their investigation in the context of signal transduction and understanding their interactions with ligands are key elements of modern biomedical research. This relates not only to molecular biology and molecular pharmacology particularly the pharmaceutical sciences.

Targets are responsible for the effect of drugs, but also their rates in the organism. The study of structural, conformational and catalytic properties of specific targets allow a rational design of drugs and biotechnological processes. Target proteins are under treatment with " biologicals " (see recombinant proteins) but also self- drugs represent their modification and formulation are the focus of pharmaceutical sciences. Finally, the target protein inducer interactions for biomolecular transcriptional switching systems can be used to control, for example, gene therapy measures.