(–)-Chaetominine is a cytotoxic alkaloid originally isolated from Chaetomium sp. IFB-E015. It inhibits the growth of K562 leukemia and SW1116 colon cancer cells (IC50s = 20 and 28 nM, respectively). (–)-Chaetominine induces apoptosis of K562 cells via upregulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, inducing mitochondrial cytochrome C release, and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. It also decreases doxorubicin efflux mediated by multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and restores sensitivity to doxorubicin in resistant K562 cells.
ChEBI: Chaetominine is an organic heterotetracyclic compound that consists of 4,5,5a,9c-tetrahydro-3H-2a,9b-diazacyclopenta[jk]fluorene-1,3(2H)-dione substituted by a hydroxy group at position 5, a methyl group at position 2 and a 4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl group at position 4 (the 2S,4R,5aS,9cS stereoisomer). It is a cytotoxic alkaloid isolated from the endophytic fungus Chaetomium. It has a role as a metabolite. It is an organic heterotetracyclic compound, a member of quinazolines, a lactam and an indole alkaloid.
