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Question 1

The following antibiotic structure is an intercalating agent. What role does the ionic group serve in making this molecule an effective intercalating agent?

a) It increases water solubility allowing high dose levels to be used.

b) It interacts with charged phosphate groups in DNA to stabilise intercalation.

c) It acts as a strong hydrogen bond donor with nucleic acid bases to stabilise intercalation.

d) It only becomes protonated when it enters cells and so becomes trapped within the cell leading to high concentrations of drug.

Question 2

Which term best describes the mechanism of action for fluoroquinolones?

a) Alkylating agent

b) Antisense agent

c) Chain cutter

d) Topoisomerase poison

Question 3

The following antibacterial agent was used in the second world war.

What is the name of the structure?

a) Erythromycin

b) Proflavine

c) Chloramphenicol

d) Rifampicin

Question 4

The following structure is a synthetic antibacterial agent called ciprofloxacin.

What is its mechanism of action?

a) Topoisomerase poison

b) Metallating agent

c) Chain terminator

d) Antisense agent

Question 5

The following anticancer agent is called busulfan.

What is the drug's mode of action?

a) Metallating agent

b) Intercalator

c) Chain terminator

d) Alkylating agent

Question 6

The following structure is an intercalating anticancer agent.

What is it called?

a) Doxorubicin

b) Dactinomycin

c) Mitoxantrone

d) Bleomycin

Question 7

What is the mode of action of the anticancer agent calicheamicin γ¹?

a) Alkylating agent

b) Chain cutting agent

c) Antisense agent

d) Intercalating agent

Question 8

The following structure is an antitumour agent derived from a bacterium.

What is the name of the agent?

a) Calicheamicin γ¹

b) Adozelesin

c) Dacarbazine

d) Oblimersen

Question 9

What is the mode of action for the anthracycline anticancer agents?

a) Alkylating agents

b) Chain cutting agents

c) Antisense agents

d) Intercalating agents

Question 10

The following structure is used in the treatment of brain tumours.

What is the structure called?

a) Carmustine

b) Lomustine

c) Streptozotocin

d) Cyclophosphamide

Question 11

The following agent is used for the treatment of testicular and ovarian cancers.

Which of the following statements is untrue regarding the above structure?

a) The chlorine groups are displaced before the drug becomes active.

b) Intrastrand cross linking of DNA results from the action of the agent.

c) Base pairing between adenine and thymine is disrupted by the agent.

d) The compound acts as a metallating agent.

Oxford University Press, Online Resource Centre, Chapter 09.

Chapter 09

Instructions