Isolation and characterisation of a prenylated p-terphenyl metabolite of Aspergillus candidus possessing potent and selective cytotoxic activity; Studies on mechanism of action
P. Stead et al., Isolation and characterisation of a prenylated p-terphenyl metabolite of Aspergillus candidus possessing potent and selective cytotoxic activity; Studies on mechanism of action, J ANTIBIOT, 52(2), 1999, pp. 89-95
We describe the discovery and proper-ties of a prenylated p-terphenyl metab
olite of the fungus Aspergillus candidus. The compound (1) possesses potent
cytotoxic activity against a range of tumour and other hyper-proliferative
cell lines. Cell cycle analysis shows that in mouse keratinocyte (BALB/MK)
cells treated with 1, the cell cycle is arrested in early S phase, indicat
ive of an antimetabolite effect. Furthermore, cellular cytotoxicity can be
reversed by addition of exogenous pyrimidine but not purine nucleosides to
the cell culture medium. It is therefore likely that compound 1 selectively
inhibits pyrimidine biosynthesis, and it is this property which accounts f
or its potent cytotoxic properties.