Biochem/physiol Actions

Apoptolidin A is a 20-membered macrolide shown to be selectively cytotoxic against several cancer cell lines and noncytotoxic against normal cells. The molecule was originally produced by Nocardiopsis species, and its target site was identified as mitochondrial F₀F₁-ATPase.
Apoptolidin induces apoptosis selectively in rat glia cells transformed with the adenovirus oncogene E₁A. Several minor apoptolidin congeners were isolated, known as Apoptolidins A-D. All apoptolidins were reported to inhibit growth of H292 cancer cells (lung carcinoma) in the submicromolar range. Recently, a stereo-selective synthesis of the Apoptolidin disaccharide was reported.