Abstract
Prodigiosins are a family of bright red colored bacterial pigment and derive their name from the miraculous (prodigious) events associated with their occurrence. They indeed seem to be living upto their name as a host of activities such as anti-microbial, anti-malarial, anti-cancer and immunosuppressive have been associated with them. Out of these, immunosuppressive and anti-cancer activity has received more importance as it has a clinical promise. Prodigiosins, isolated mostly from Gram negative bacteria are characterized by a common pyrryldipyrrylmethene structure with varying side chains. The review discusses the mechanisms involved in the anti-cancer activity of this class of compounds. In vitro, prodigiosins have been shown to primarily target the cancer cells independently of the p53 status while little or no effect has been observed on normal cells. In addition, prodigiosins are effective in cancer cells with multidrug resistance phenotype and defects in the apoptotic pathways. These make prodigiosins attractive candidates for further development. Though the molecular targets of prodigiosins have not been clearly defined, they have been found to target different signaling pathways possibly through induction of DNA double strand breaks and/ or neutralization of pH gradients leading to changes in cell cycle proteins and apoptosis. The review will discuss the recent findings related to the mechanism involved in the anti-cancer activity of this class of molecules.
Keywords: Prodigiosin, anti-cancer, apoptosis, signal transduction
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Prodigiosins as Anti Cancer Agents: Living Upto Their Name
Volume: 15 Issue: 7
Author(s): R. Pandey, R. Chander and K. B. Sainis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Prodigiosin, anti-cancer, apoptosis, signal transduction
Abstract: Prodigiosins are a family of bright red colored bacterial pigment and derive their name from the miraculous (prodigious) events associated with their occurrence. They indeed seem to be living upto their name as a host of activities such as anti-microbial, anti-malarial, anti-cancer and immunosuppressive have been associated with them. Out of these, immunosuppressive and anti-cancer activity has received more importance as it has a clinical promise. Prodigiosins, isolated mostly from Gram negative bacteria are characterized by a common pyrryldipyrrylmethene structure with varying side chains. The review discusses the mechanisms involved in the anti-cancer activity of this class of compounds. In vitro, prodigiosins have been shown to primarily target the cancer cells independently of the p53 status while little or no effect has been observed on normal cells. In addition, prodigiosins are effective in cancer cells with multidrug resistance phenotype and defects in the apoptotic pathways. These make prodigiosins attractive candidates for further development. Though the molecular targets of prodigiosins have not been clearly defined, they have been found to target different signaling pathways possibly through induction of DNA double strand breaks and/ or neutralization of pH gradients leading to changes in cell cycle proteins and apoptosis. The review will discuss the recent findings related to the mechanism involved in the anti-cancer activity of this class of molecules.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Pandey R., Chander R. and Sainis B. K., Prodigiosins as Anti Cancer Agents: Living Upto Their Name, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2009; 15 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161209787582192
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161209787582192 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Targeting Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) to Counteract Tumour- Induced ImmuneDysfunction: From Biochemistry to Clinical Development
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets A Review of Recent Developments in Nanocellulose-Based Conductive Hydrogels
Current Nanoscience Recent Developments on 1,2,4-Triazole Nucleus in Anticancer Compounds: A Review
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry From Bortezomib to other Inhibitors of the Proteasome and Beyond
Current Pharmaceutical Design Natural Anti-inflammatory Compounds as Drug Candidates in Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Potassium Channels: Novel Emerging Biomarkers and Targets for Therapy in Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Understanding Tumor-Antigen Presentation in the New Era of Cancer Immunotherapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Tankyrase as a Novel Molecular Target in Cancer and Fibrotic Diseases
Current Drug Targets <i>In Vitro</i> Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Inducing Evaluation of Novel Halogenated Isatin Derivatives
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Cell Culture Models of Oxidative Stress and Injury in the Central Nervous System
Current Neurovascular Research Recent Advances in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Dystonia-Plus Syndromes and Heredodegenerative Dystonias
Current Neuropharmacology Targeting Histone Deacetylases in Neuroblastoma
Current Pharmaceutical Design Garlic-Derived Allyl Sulfides in Cancer Therapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Topotecan and Irinotecan in the Treatment of Pediatric Solid Tumors
Current Pediatric Reviews Turning REST/NRSF Dysfunction in Huntingtons Disease into a Pharmaceutical Target
Current Pharmaceutical Design Implications for CNS Repair of Redox Modulation of Cell Survival, Division and Differentiation
Current Alzheimer Research Anticancer Agents Derived from Natural Products
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Multiple Roles for Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 as a Drug Target in Alzheimers Disease
Current Drug Targets Bioinformatics Approach to BDNF and BDNF-Related Disorders
Current Neuropharmacology Antibodies for Therapeutic Uses and the Evolution of Biotechniques
Current Medicinal Chemistry