Berkelic acid, a novel spiroketal with selective anticancer activity from an acid mine waste fungal extremophile.

Abstract

Berkeley Pit Lake is an abandoned open-pit copper mine filled with 30 billion gallons of acidic, metal-contaminated water. This harsh environment is proving to be a source of unusual microorganisms that produce novel bioactive metabolites. Bioassay-guided fractionation using signal transduction enzyme assays led to the isolation of the novel spiroketal, berkelic acid 1, and of the known gamma-pyrone, spiciferone A 4. Berkelic acid has shown selective, nanomolar activity against OVCAR-3, an ovarian cancer cell line in the National Cancer Institute cell line screen. The isolation and characterization of these compounds are reported here.

• Authors: Andrea A Stierle, Donald B Stierle, Kal Kelly
• Journal: The Journal of organic chemistry (J Org Chem) Vol. 71 Issue 14 Pg. 5357-60 (Jul 07 2006) ISSN: 0022-3263 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16808526 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring
• Spiro Compounds
• Waste Products
• berkelic acid
• spiciferone A
• Water

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
• Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring (chemistry)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (methods, standards)
• Molecular Conformation
• Penicillium (chemistry)
• Reference Standards
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Spiro Compounds (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Waste Products
• Water (chemistry)