Prostratin
Prostratin is a protein kinase C activator found in the bark of the mamala tree of Samoa, Homalanthus nutans (Euphorbiaceae). While prostratin was originally isolated and identified as a new phorbol ester from species of the genus Pimelea (Thymelaceae) in Australia, the antiviral activity of prostratin was discovered during research on the traditional knowledge of Samoan healers in Falealupo village by ethnobotanist Paul Alan Cox and a team at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Samoan healers use the mamala tree to treat hepatitis. Research indicated that prostratin has potential to be useful in the treatment of HIV as it could flush viral reservoirs in latently infected CD4+ T-cells.[1]
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Preferred IUPAC name
(1aR,1bS,4aR,7aS,7bR,8R,9aS)-4a,7b-Dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,1,6,8-tetramethyl-5-oxo-1,1a,1b,4,4a,5,7a,7b,8,9-decahydro-9aH-cyclopropa[3,4]benzo[1,2-e]azulen-9a-yl acetate | |
Other names
12-Deoxyphorbol-13-acetate | |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
C22H30O6 | |
Molar mass | 390.47 g/mol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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As a modulator of protein kinase C, it has been shown to exhibit promising therapeutic potential against other diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In 2015, study showed that orally administrated prostratin repressed human pancreatic tumor.[2]
Overview
Prostratin is of interest because of its unique ability to activate latent viral reservoirs, while preventing healthy cells from infection, as well as its discovery through ethnobotany. Pioneering agreements to protect indigenous intellectual property rights of the Samoan people were established between the Samoan government and the AIDS Research Alliance, with 20% of ARA's profits to be returned to the Samoan people,[3] and between the Samoan Government and the University of California, Berkeley where a team led by Jay Keasling is trying to isolate the gene sequence responsible for prostratin biosynthesis. Samoa and UC Berkeley agreed to share equally in any commercial proceeds from the gene product.
In 2008, a team at Stanford University led by chemist Paul Wender has published an elegant four-step chemical synthesis of prostratin from phorbol.[4] This practical synthesis produces gram quantities of prostratin, and is a major step forward in pharmaceutical development of prostratin.
In 2010, AIDS Research Alliance in Los Angeles, California announced that it signed a new licensing agreement with Stanford University, transferring exclusive rights of the technology developed by the Stanford research team. Phase I human clinical trials of prostratin will be carried out by the AIDS ReSearch Alliance in Los Angeles, California.
References
- Prostratin and the AIDS Research Alliance, AIDS Research Alliance, 2006
- Wang, Man-Tzu; Holderfield, Matthew; Galeas, Jacqueline; Delrosario, Reyno; To, Minh D.; Balmain, Allan; McCormick, Frank (2015). "K-Ras Promotes Tumorigenicity through Suppression of Non-canonical Wnt Signaling". Cell. 163 (5): 1237–1251. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.041. PMID 26590425.
- Prostratin Press Release Archived 2007-01-06 at archive.today, AIDS Research Alliance, 2001-12-13
- Paul A. Wender; Jung-Min Kee; Jeffrey M. Warrington (May 2008). "Practical Synthesis of Prostratin, DPP, and Their Analogs, Adjuvant Leads Against Latent HIV". Science. 320 (5876): 649–652. Bibcode:2008Sci...320..649W. doi:10.1126/science.1154690. PMC 2704988. PMID 18451298.
External links
- Paul Wender and Stanford Prostratin synthesis
- Jay Keasling and Prostratin Genes
- Ethnobotanist Paul Cox
- Prostratin Agreements with Samoa
- U.S. University Shares Drug Royalties with Samoa for Tree Gene
- Berkeley searches for AIDS cure in a Samoan indigenous tree
- Press Release-AIDS Research Alliance Gains Exclusive Rights To New Technology from Stanford University