Explain the term, target molecules or drug targets as used in medicinal chemistry.

Explanation

A knowledge of the physiological function of the drug target in the body helps us to choose a compound which can interact with the target and hence is expected to be therapeutically active. These compounds are called lead compounds and drugs are designed from these compounds. Drugs interact with macromolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids and hence these are called target molecules or drug targets. Proteins perform several roles in the body. Proteins which act as biological catalysts are called enzymes, those which are involved in communication system are called receptors. Carrier proteins carry polar molecules across the cell membrane. Nucleic acids have coded genetic information in the cell and lipids and carbohydrates form structural part of cell membranes.