: a substance that is structurally similar to a metabolite (such as a coenzyme) and that serves to inhibit a particular cellular function (such as DNA synthesis) by interfering with or blocking the metaboliteʼs action
From the start [Gertrude] Elion concentrated her research on using purine and pyrimidine antimetabolites to interfere with the synthesis of nucleic acids …—
Mairin Brennan
Mairin BrennanExamples of antimetabolite in a Sentence
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Over the last almost four decades a toxic triad of immunosuppressive medicines — calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, steroids — has remained essentially the same with limited exceptions.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 19 Apr. 2023
The doctor gave him a powerful antimetabolite.
—Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2021
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Seyward Darby, Longreads, 19 Apr. 2023
The doctor gave him a powerful antimetabolite.
—Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near antimetabolite
Cite this Entry
“Antimetabolite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antimetabolite. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
antimetabolite
noun
an·ti·me·tab·o·lite
ˌant-i-mə-ˈtab-ə-ˌlīt, ˌan-ˌtī- 
: a substance that is structurally similar to a metabolite (as a coenzyme) and that serves to inhibit a particular cellular function (as DNA synthesis) by interfering with or blocking the metaboliteʼs action
Antimetabolites, such as methotrexate masquerade as essential nutrients, which the cell uses instead of real nutrients and thus dies.—Jane E. Brody
Jane E. Brodyantimetabolite therapy
antimetabolic
adjective
In addition to its antimetabolic effects, methotrexate has immunological effects …
—Robert S. Stern
Robert S. Stern
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