Eudistomins Eudistomins are

β-carboline β-Carboline (9''H''- pyrido ,4-''b'' ndole) represents the basic chemical structure for more than one hundred alkaloids and synthetic compounds. The effects of these substances depend on their respective substituent. Natural β-carbolines prima ...

derivatives, isolated from ascidians (marine tunicates of the family ''

Ascidiacea Ascidiacea, commonly known as the ascidians, tunicates (in part), and sea squirts (in part), is a polyphyletic class in the subphylum Tunicata of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians are characterized by a tough outer "tunic" ...

''), like ''Ritterella sigillinoides'', ''Lissoclinum fragile'', or ''Pseudodistoma aureum''.

Types of Eudistomin

Eudistomin C

Eudistomin C is a naturally occurring β-carboline derivative which has been found in the Ascidian, ''Eudistoma Olivaseum.'' Eudistomin C is a cytotoxic molecule; this cytotoxicity is achieved by the Eudistomin C binds onto the

40S The eukaryotic small ribosomal subunit (40S) is the smaller subunit of the eukaryotic 80S ribosomes, with the other major component being the large ribosomal subunit (60S). The "40S" and "60S" names originate from the convention that ribosomal pa ...

or 80S Ribosomal subunits, which inhibits the process of protein translation, leading to cell death. There are cells that are resistance to Eudistomin C's

cytotoxicity Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom, e.g. from the puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') or brown recluse spider (''Loxosceles reclusa''). Cell physiology Treating cells ...

, and these cells are called Yeast EudiC Resistance mutants (YER). YER mutants have a RPS14A mutation on the cell's uS11 gene, which encodes for the cell's 40S ribosomal subunit. This produces the RPS14A

Ribosomal subunit which confers a resistance against Eudistomin C, preventing protein translation inhibition. Eudistomin C has also shown antitumor and antiviral properties. The exact mechanism of these properties are unknown, however it is believed that its ability to inhibit protein translation is responsible for its antitumor and antiviral properties.

Eudistomin U

Eudistomin U is a

derivative. The structure of this molecule is made up of a

with an aromatic indole at the 1' position, thus also functioning as an indole. Eudistomin C is also a cytotoxic molecule, and its cytotoxicity have been shown to affect certain cancer cell line and human pathogens. A recent study suggested that this cytotoxicity may allow Eudistomin C to bind to DNA molecules. In addition to this, Eudistomin C displayed antibacterial property in Gram-Positive Bacteria. This is due to Eudistomin C damaging the bacteria's cell membrane and interfering with the

DNA gyrase DNA gyrase, or simply gyrase, is an enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrat ...

function, which directly leads to cell death.

Types of Eudistomin

Eudistomin C

Eudistomin U

References

Further reading