New eremophilane sesquiterpenoid compounds, eremoxylarins A and B directly inhibit calcineurin in a manner independent of immunophilin

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2008 Aug;61(8):496-502. doi: 10.1038/ja.2008.66.

Abstract

In the course of our screening program for a new Ca2+-signal transduction inhibitor using the hypersensitive mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (zds1Delta erg3Delta pdr1Delta pdr3Delta), new eremophilane sesquiterpenoid compounds eremoxylarins A and B were found to restore the growth inhibition caused by the hyperactivated Ca2+-signal. These compounds showed lethal activity against the mpk1Delta strain, specifically, compared to the cnb1Delta strain, and ion-sensitive activity against the wild-type strain in the presence of LiCl, indicating that their molecular target might be the calcineurin pathway. They inhibited calcineurin directly without immunophilins at IC50=2.7 and 1.4 microM with competitive inhibition in vitro. The eremophilane sesquiterpenoid structure in eremoxylarins could be a good leading compound for immunosuppressants and anti-allergy drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Calcineurin Inhibitors*
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Immunophilins / metabolism
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Lithium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Naphthalenes / pharmacology*
  • Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Calcineurin Inhibitors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Naphthalenes
  • Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • eremophilane compounds
  • Immunophilins
  • Lithium Chloride