mechanism of action

1 definition found

mechanism of action - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  mechanism of action \mech"an*ism of ac"tion\, n. (Medicine,
     Biochemistry)
     The mechanism[2] by which a pharmacologically active
     substance produces an effect on a living organism or in a
     biochemical system; as, the mechanism of action of
     actinomycin involves its binding to DNA. The mechanism of
     action is usually considered to include an identification of
     the specific molecular targets to which a pharmacologically
     active substance binds or whose biochemical action it
     influences; a general recognition of the broad biochemical
     pathways (such as DNA synthesis, protein synthesis,
     cholesterol synthesis) which are inhibited or affected by a
     substance is termed its mode of action.
     [PJC]