Genomics and the discovery of new drug targets

Molecular medicine and genomics technologies are inseparable for defining n ew molecular targets. cDNA databases and elementary informatic tools provid e instantaneous glimpses of gene families or tissue-restricted expression p atterns as a means of new target identification. In addition, cDNA microarr ays and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis unmask the expression of genes with unassigned or unexpected functions. Depletion of mRNA with ribozymes o r neutralization of proteins with intracellular antibodies enable investiga tors to reject or embrace new molecular hypotheses about the determinants o f disease, pharmacology or toxicology.