| Abstrakt: |
Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong have made progress in understanding anticancer agents through their study of the bioactive fungal sesterterpenoid variecolin. They identified a biosynthetic gene cluster for variecolin and variecolactone in Aspergillus aculeatus ATCC 16872. By expressing the sesterterpene synthase VrcA and the cytochrome P450 VrcB, they were able to produce variecolin and its analogues in Aspergillus oryzae. The study found that one of the analogues, compound 5, showed comparable anticancer activity to variecolin but with significantly reduced toxic side effects in cancer-bearing mice, suggesting a broader therapeutic window. This research demonstrates the potential of synthetic biology in creating molecules with improved biological activities. [Extracted from the article] |
