Rebeccamycin

Rebeccamycin is a naturally occurring indolocarbazole antibiotic that was first isolated from the actinomycete Nocardia autotrophica. It is named after Rebecca Lancefield, a prominent microbiologist. Rebeccamycin has been studied for its potential use in cancer treatment due to its ability to inhibit topoisomerase I, an enzyme that is crucial for DNA replication.

History

Rebeccamycin was first isolated in 1985 from the actinomycete Nocardia autotrophica. The compound was named in honor of Rebecca Lancefield, a microbiologist known for her work on streptococci and staphylococci.

Structure and Properties

Rebeccamycin is an indolocarbazole, a type of molecule that consists of two indole rings fused to a carbazole. The molecule also contains a sugar moiety, L-dideoxyfucose, attached to the carbazole nitrogen. The presence of the sugar moiety increases the solubility of rebeccamycin in water.

Biological Activity

Rebeccamycin has been found to inhibit topoisomerase I, an enzyme that is essential for DNA replication. By inhibiting this enzyme, rebeccamycin can prevent cancer cells from replicating their DNA and thus halt their growth. This has led to interest in rebeccamycin as a potential anticancer drug.

Clinical Trials

Several clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rebeccamycin as a cancer treatment. While some trials have shown promising results, others have found that the drug has significant side effects and its overall effectiveness is still uncertain.

See Also

• Indolocarbazole
• Topoisomerase inhibitor
• Antibiotics
• Cancer treatment

References

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