Novel inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase.

In a search for new inhibitors of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, it was found that various benzamides substituted in the 3-position were the most inhibitory compounds found to date. Two of the benzamides, 3-aminobenzamide and 3-methoxybenzamide, were found to be competitive inhibitors, with Ki values or less than 2 microM.