Tropodithietic acid (750590-18-2) displays potent broad-spectrum anticancer activity.1 Displays cytotoxic effects on mammalian cell lines (neuronal N2a cells and OLN-93 cells as model systems for nerve cells and glia) acting via disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of ERK1/2 and induction of HSP32/HO-1 (considered as a sensor of oxidative stress).2 A broad-spectrum antibiotic agent produced by marine bacteria which does not appear to induce resistance after long-term exposure.3
Tropodithietic Acid (cas# 750590-18-2) is a compound useful in organic synthesis.
ChEBI: Tropodithietic acid is a monocarboxylic acid that is 8,9-dithiabicyclo[5.2.0]nona-1,3,6-triene substituted by a carboxy group at position 2 and an oxo group at position 3. It is a broad spectrum antibiotic produced by the marine bacterium Phaeobacter inhibens that also acts as a signalling molecule at lower concentrations. It has a role as a toxin, a signalling molecule, a marine metabolite, an antibacterial agent and a bacterial metabolite. It is an organic disulfide, a cyclic ketone, an organosulfur heterocyclic compound, an organic heterobicyclic compound and a monocarboxylic acid. It is a tautomer of a thiotropocin.
1) Wilson et al. (2016), Mode of action and resistance studies unveil new roles for tropodithietic acid as an anticancer agent and the γ-glutamyl cycle as a proton sink; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 113 1630
2) Wichmann et al. (2015), Cytotoxic Effects of Tropodithietic Acid on Mammalian Clonal Cell Lines of Neuronal and Glial Origin; Mar. Drugs, 13 7113
3) Rasmussen et al. (2016), Vibro anguillarum is Genetically and Phenotypically Unaffected by Long-Term Continuous Exposure to the Antibacterial Compound Tropodithietic Acid; Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 82 4802