SMUG1 Inhibitors

SMUG1 inhibitors belong to a specific class of chemical compounds that are primarily designed to target and modulate the activity of the SMUG1 enzyme. SMUG1, which stands for Single-Strand Selective Monofunctional Uracil-DNA Glycosylase 1, is an essential enzyme involved in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, a critical mechanism responsible for maintaining genomic stability. SMUG1 is particularly known for its role in recognizing and excising uracil bases from DNA molecules. This process is crucial in repairing DNA damage caused by the spontaneous deamination of cytosine to uracil, as well as other forms of DNA lesions resulting from various endogenous and exogenous factors.

SMUG1 inhibitors are designed to interfere with the normal enzymatic activity of SMUG1, thereby modulating its role in the BER pathway. These inhibitors typically work by binding to the active site of SMUG1, it from efficiently recognizing and removing uracil bases from DNA. As a consequence, the repair of DNA lesions becomes compromised, potentially leading to the accumulation of DNA damage and genomic instability.