Asperlicin is a

mycotoxin A mycotoxin (from the Greek μύκης , "fungus" and τοξίνη , "toxin") is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of kingdom Fungi and is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals. The term 'mycotoxin' ...

, derived from the fungus '' Aspergillus alliaceus''. It acts as a selective antagonist for the

cholecystokinin receptor Cholecystokinin receptors or CCK receptors are a group of G-protein coupled receptors which bind the peptide hormones cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin. There are two different subtypes CCKA and CCKB which are ~50% homologous: Various cholecy ...

CCK_A, and has been used as a

lead compound A lead compound (, i.e. a "leading" compound, not to be confused with various compounds of the metallic element lead) in drug discovery is a chemical compound that has pharmacology, pharmacological or biological activity likely to be therapeutical ...

for the development of a number of novel CCK_A antagonists with potential clinical applications.Lattmann E, Billington DC, Poyner DR, Howitt SB, Offel M. Synthesis and evaluation of asperlicin analogues as non-peptidal cholecystokinin-antagonists. ''Drug Design and Discovery''. 2001;17(3):219-30. He et al. 1998 present a synthesis from aryl iodide and vinyl iodide.

References

Mycotoxins Cholecystokinin antagonists Lactams {{gastrointestinal-drug-stub