Ophiobolin A (4611-05-6) selectively inhibits the growth of cancer cells (IC50=0.4-4.3 μM) over normal cells (IC50=20.9 μM).1 Induces non-apoptotic cell death in glioblastoma cells and is active in an in vivo model.2 Covalently reacts with primary amines such as lysine side chains2 and phosphatidylethanolamine3 forming unique pyrrole adducts. Induces ER stress4, paraptosis4 and autophagy5.
ChEBI: A sesterterpenoid that is ophiobolane with a hydroxy group at position 3, oxo groups at positions 5 and 25, double bonds at positions 7-8 and 19-20, and an oxygen link between positions 14 and 18.
1) Bhatia et al. (2016), Anticancer activity of Ophiobolin A, isolated from the endophytic fungus Bipolaris setariae; Nat. Prod. Res., 30 1455
2) Dasari et al. (2015), Fungal metabolite ophiobolin A as a promising anti-glioma agent: In vivo evaluation, structure-activity relationship and unique pyrrolylation of primary amines; Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 25 4544
3) Chidley et al. (2016), The anticancer natural product ophiobolin A induces cytotoxicity by covalent modification of phosphatidylethanolamine; Elife., 5 e14601
4) Kim et al. (2017), Ophiobolin A kills human glioblastoma cells by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress via disruption of thiol proteostatis; Oncotarget, 8 106740
5) Rodolfo et al. (2016), Ophiobolin A Induces Autophagy and Activates the Mitochondrial Pathway of Apoptosis in Human Melanoma Cells; PLoS One, 11 e0167672
