Figure 1
From: Identification of oxidized protein hydrolase as a potential prodrug target in prostate cancer
Esterase activity profiling and the esterase prodrug strategy proposed by Yamazaki et al. utilize the same mechanism for activation. A) The active compound is blocked with an ester linker to an inactive compound such as N-acetyl-alanine. B) The compound is activated within the target cell by target esterase(s). C) The prodrug is unblocked and induces cell death in the target cell. Esterase activity staining with ANAA substrates releases naphthyl alcohol upon hydrolysis that reacts with Fast Blue RR, a diazonium salt, to form an insoluble product.