Chemists synthesize anti cancer compound

Chemists synthesize fungal compound with anti-cancer activity

Ten years ago, William Fenical of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography isolated from an ocean-living fungus a compound that has since shown the ability to kill cancer cells in the lab. Now, for the first time, MIT chemists have synthesized the compound, an advance that could open the door to new drug treatments for cancer.

The compound, known as (+)-11,11'-Dideoxyverticillin A, is one of the most structurally complex members of a family of naturally occurring alkaloids.

Mohammad Movassaghi, associate professor of chemistry, graduate student Justin Kim and former postdoctoral associate James Ashenhurst reported the synthesis in the April 10 issue of Science.

Their 11-step synthesis, which starts with commercially available amino acids, provides ample quantities of the natural alkaloids and gives access to a wide range of related compounds, enabling thorough biological evaluation of these types of alkaloids as anticancer agents.


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