BILE-ACIDS IN DRUG DISCOVERY

Recent advances have provided important new information on the physiol ogical mechanisms of bile acid transport and metabolism. Bile acids, w hich are essential for the digestion and absorption of lipids and lipi d-soluble vitamins, are metabolic: products of cholesterol and are a m ajor regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. Bile acids are pharmacologi cally interesting as potential carriers of liver-specific drugs, absor ption enhancers and as new cholesterol-lowering agents. Furthermore, t he tools of molecular recognition and combinatorial chemistry have bee n used to explore the drug discovery possibilities of bile acids. The authors explore current understanding and future prospects for bile ac id research.