Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026
Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation
Published on: January 26, 2016
Isolation of a novel cyclic hexadepsipeptide pipalamycin from Streptomyces as an apoptosis-inducing agent
Yuki Uchihata1, Noritaka Ando, Yoko Ikeda
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan.
Abstract:
The novel cyclic hexadepsipeptide named pipalamycin was isolated from a culture filtrate of Streptomyces sp. ML297-90F8 as an apoptosis-inducing agent. The antibiotic was found to be consisting of each one mole of alanine, N-hydroxyalanine, glycine, N-acylated 3-hydroxyleucine, and two moles of piperazic acid. Pipalamycin induced apoptosis in apoptosis-resistant human pancreatic adenocarcinoma AsPC-1 cells at 0.3 microg/ml in 24 to approximately 48 hours. It also showed antibacterial activity on Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus. Fermentation, isolation, structural elucidation and the biological activities of pipalamycin are described.
Insights
A new cyclic hexadepsipeptide, pipalamycin, was discovered from Streptomyces. This novel antibiotic induces apoptosis in cancer cells and exhibits antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Streptomyces species are a prolific source of novel bioactive compounds.
- Cyclic hexadepsipeptides represent a class of natural products with diverse biological activities.
- Apoptosis-inducing agents are crucial for cancer therapy research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel cyclic hexadepsipeptide from Streptomyces sp. ML297-90F8.
- To investigate the apoptosis-inducing potential of the isolated compound.
- To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the compound.
Main Methods:
- Fermentation of Streptomyces sp. ML297-90F8.
- Isolation and purification of the novel compound using chromatographic techniques.
- Structural elucidation through spectroscopic methods (e.g., NMR, Mass Spectrometry).
- In vitro assays to assess apoptosis induction in cancer cells and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
Main Results:
- Isolation of pipalamycin, a novel cyclic hexadepsipeptide composed of alanine, N-hydroxyalanine, glycine, N-acylated 3-hydroxyleucine, and two piperazic acid units.
- Pipalamycin demonstrated potent apoptosis-inducing activity in apoptosis-resistant human pancreatic adenocarcinoma AsPC-1 cells at a concentration of 0.3 microg/ml within 24-48 hours.
- The compound exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus.
Conclusions:
- Pipalamycin is a novel cyclic hexadepsipeptide with significant apoptosis-inducing and antibacterial properties.
- Its ability to overcome apoptosis resistance in cancer cells highlights its therapeutic potential.
- Further research into pipalamycin's mechanism of action and efficacy is warranted.