Caspase-1 inhibitors from an extremophilic fungus that target specific leukemia cell lines

J Nat Prod. 2012 Mar 23;75(3):344-50. doi: 10.1021/np200414c. Epub 2012 Feb 1.

Abstract

Berkeley Pit Lake, Butte, Montana, is a 540 m deep abandoned open-pit copper mine filled with over 140 billion liters of acidic, metal-sulfate-contaminated water. This harsh environment has yielded several microorganisms that produce interesting biologically active compounds. Several polyketide metabolites including the new berkazaphilones A (1) and B (2) and octadienoic acid derivatives berkedienoic acid (13) and berkedienolactone (15), as well as previously reported azaphilone 4, vermistatin (6), dihydrovermistatin (7), penisimplicissin (8), aldehyde 9, and methylparaconic acid (11), were isolated from a culture broth of Penicillium rubrum taken from a depth of 270 m. The structures of these compounds were deduced by interpretation of spectroscopic data. The compounds were isolated either for their inhibition of the signal transduction enzyme caspase-1 or because of their structural similarity to these inhibitors. Selected compounds were further evaluated for their ability to inhibit interleukin-1β production by inflammasomes in induced THP-1 cells. Berkazaphilones B (2) and C (4) and vermistatin analogue penisimplicissin (8) exhibited selective activity against leukemia cancer cell lines in the National Cancer Institute 60 human cell line assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzopyrans / chemistry
  • Benzopyrans / isolation & purification*
  • Benzopyrans / pharmacology*
  • Caspase Inhibitors*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / isolation & purification*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lakes
  • Leukemia / drug therapy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Montana
  • National Cancer Institute (U.S.)
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Penicillium / chemistry*
  • United States
  • Water

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzopyrans
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Water