[Drugs, inhibitors and other stories. From cancer chemotherapy to nutritional toxicology].

Abstract

The designation as speaker of the XVIII Annual Conference "Karl Gaede", sponsored by the Asociación Venezolana de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, provided me with the opportunity to revisit the path constructed in twenty five years of biochemical research. This path stretches from cancer chemotherapy to nutritional toxicology, following the elusive thread that interconnects the metabolic network buried in the ground of any biological process. This work summarizes experiences derived from the use of drugs, inhibitors and stimulators that act on specific enzymatic steps. As a metabolic artisan, I have used these tools to unveil the peculiarities and the inherent character that give continuity to the conductive thread across the whole biological universe.