Jervine is a steroidal alkaloid with molecular formula C₂₇H₃₉NO₃ which is derived from the plant genus '' Veratrum''. Similar to

cyclopamine Cyclopamine (11-deoxojervine) is a naturally occurring chemical that belongs in the family of steroidal alkaloids. It is a teratogen isolated from the corn lily (''Veratrum californicum'') that causes fatal birth defects. It prevents the embryon ...

, which also occurs in the genus ''Veratrum'', it is a teratogen implicated in birth defects when consumed by animals during a certain period of their

gestation Gestation is the period of development during the carrying of an embryo, and later fetus, inside viviparous animals (the embryo develops within the parent). It is typical for mammals, but also occurs for some non-mammals. Mammals during preg ...

Physiological effects

Jervine is a potent teratogen causing birth defects in

vertebrates Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () ( chordates with backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, wi ...

. In severe cases it can cause cyclopia and

holoprosencephaly Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon (the forebrain of the embryo) fails to develop into two hemispheres, typically occurring between the 18th and 28th day of gestation. Normally, the forebrain is formed a ...

Mechanism of action

Jervine's biological activity is mediated via its interaction with the 7 pass trans membrane protein

smoothened Smoothened is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SMO gene. Smoothened is a Class Frizzled (Class F) G protein-coupled receptor that is a component of the hedgehog signaling pathway and is conserved from flies to humans. It is the molecul ...

. Jervine binds with and inhibits

, which is an integral part of the

hedgehog signaling pathway The Hedgehog signaling pathway is a signaling pathway that transmits information to embryonic cells required for proper cell differentiation. Different parts of the embryo have different concentrations of hedgehog signaling proteins. The pathway ...

s. With smoothened inhibited, the GLI1 transcription cannot be activated and hedgehog target genes cannot be transcribed.

References

{{reflist Teratogens Jervines Spiro compounds Secondary alcohols Ketones Oxygen heterocycles Nitrogen heterocycles Plant toxins