28056-19-1Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Metabolites from invasive pests inhibit mitochondrial complex II: A potential strategy for the treatment of human ovarian carcinoma?
Ferramosca, Alessandra,Conte, Annalea,Guerra, Flora,Felline, Serena,Rimoli, Maria Grazia,Mollo, Ernesto,Zara, Vincenzo,Terlizzi, Antonio
, p. 1133 - 1138 (2016)
The red pigment caulerpin, a secondary metabolite from the marine invasive green algae Caulerpa cylindracea can be accumulated and transferred along the trophic chain, with detrimental consequences on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Despite increasing research efforts to understand how caulerpin modifies fish physiology, little is known on the effects of algal metabolites on mammalian cells. Here we report for the first time the mitochondrial targeting activity of both caulerpin, and its closely related derivative caulerpinic acid, by using as experimental model rat liver mitochondria, a system in which bioenergetics mechanisms are not altered. Mitochondrial function was tested by polarographic and spectrophotometric methods. Both compounds were found to selectively inhibit respiratory complex II activity, while complexes I, III, and IV remained functional. These results led us to hypothesize that both algal metabolites could be used as antitumor agents in cell lines with defects in mitochondrial complex I. Ovarian cancer cisplatin-resistant cells are a good example of cell lines with a defective complex I function on which these molecules seem to have a toxic effect on proliferation. This provided novel insight toward the potential use of metabolites from invasive Caulerpa species for the treatment of human ovarian carcinoma cisplatin-resistant cells.
The Green Algal Pigment Caulerpin as a Plant Growth Regulator
Raub, Michael F.,Cardellina, John H.,Schwede, John G.
, p. 619 - 620 (1987)
Caulerpin, a green algal pigment possessing a unique bis-indole structure, has been shown to be a plant growth regulator.Root growth assays were conducted with caulerpin and its hydrolysis product, and the results were compared with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) and indole-3-acrylic acid (IAcA).This study has indicated that caulerpin, in essence a dimer of indole-3-acrylic acid, behaves much like the indole auxins.Key Word Index - Caulerpa; alga; caulerpin; auxin; plant growth regulator.
