Which are examples of drug targets?

• A. Receptors
• B. Enzymes
• C. Receptors, enzymes, membrane transporters, immune molecules, signal transduction molecules, and nucleic acids
• D. Nucleic acids only

Answer: (C)

Drug targets are the biomolecules that a drug interacts with to produce its effect. They can be a wide range of types, not just one class. Receptors and enzymes are classic targets because drugs can modulate signaling or metabolic pathways by binding to them. Membrane transporters are important targets because they control how drugs enter or leave cells. Immune molecules can be targeted in immunotherapies to alter immune responses. Components of intracellular signaling, or signal transduction molecules, can be modulated to change how cells respond to stimuli. Nucleic acids also serve as targets, as in therapies that use antisense molecules, siRNA, or aptamers to influence gene expression. Because this option lists receptors, enzymes, membrane transporters, immune molecules, signal transduction molecules, and nucleic acids, it encompasses the broad scope of drug targets. The other options are too narrow, naming only one category.