1,5-Isoquinolinediol

1,5-Isoquinolinediol is a small molecule with cell protective and neuroprotective properties. 1,5-isopuinolinediol is an inhibitor of both PARP-1 (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1) and NOS2 (inducible nitric oxide synthase). PARP and NOS2 activations are implicated in deleterious inflammatory responses and suppression of their activity by 1,5 isoquinolinediol has been correlated to cellular protection and survival. The DNA excision-repair enzyme PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase, PARS) is activated by free radical oxidative cleavage of the DNA backbone, and excessive PARS activation leads to deplation of cellular NAD and ATP, progressing to cell death. A study demonstrates taht 1,5-isoquinolinediol protects against the neurotoxicity generated by NO-induced PARS activation and by NMDA in rat brain neurons. The Inhibition of PARP by 1,5-isoquinolinediol has also been correlated to a decrease in illegitimate recombination in gene targeting techniques, increasing the efficiency of specific alterations to chromosomal DNA.