Isolation of Caldorazole, a Thiazole-Containing Polyketide with Selective Cytotoxicity under Glucose-Restricted Conditions

Org Lett. 2022 Jul 1;24(25):4547-4551. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c01566. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Abstract

Caldorazole (1) was isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Caldora sp. collected on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan. Its structure was determined to be a new polyketide that contained two thiazole rings and an O-methylenolpyruvamide moiety. Caldorazole (1) showed strong cytotoxicity toward tumor cells that had been seeded at a high density. Cell death induced by 1 in HeLa and A431 cells was also observed only in the presence of the glycolysis blocker 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG). Co-treatment with 1 and 2DG remarkably decreased ATP levels in these cells. Furthermore, 1 selectively inhibited complex I in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Thus, 1 was demonstrated to exert cytotoxicity toward human tumor cells by blocking mitochondrial respiration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Deoxyglucose / pharmacology
  • Glucose*
  • Glycolysis
  • Humans
  • Polyketides* / pharmacology
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology

Substances

  • Polyketides
  • Thiazoles
  • Deoxyglucose
  • Glucose