UCH9

The structure of UCH9, which is a novel antitumor agent, was determined by spectroscopic methods. UCH9 consists of an aglycone and five 2,6-dideoxy sugars (three D-olivoses, one 4-O-methyl-D-olivose and one D-oliose). Four of the five sugars are sequentially connected through a beta 1-->3 linkage (olivose-1-->3-4-O-methyl-olivose-1-->3-oliose-1-->3-+ ++olivose). On the basis of the results of spectroscopic analysis, it was found that UCH9 belongs to the aureolic acid family of antibiotics. The structure of UCH9 is unique in that mono- and tetrasaccharide moieties, and a long hydrophobic side chain (sec-butyl group) are attached to the aglycone, while di- and trisaccharide moieties and a methyl or a hydrogen are attached in the case of the known aureolic acid analogs. It is known that aureolic acid analogs from a dimer in the presence of Mg2+. NMR, FAB-MS and atomic absorption analysis revealed that UCH9 isolated from Streptomyces also forms a dimer, containing one equivalent molar Mg2+.

Recently, we reported the dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activity by some phenylsulphonyl urenyl chalcone derivatives. 2,4-dichloro-4'N[N'(4''methylphenylsulphonyl)urenyl] chalcone (Me-UCH9), was selected in the present study to determine its potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect after oral administration in several animal models related to the activation of COX-2 and 5-LO pathways. In the zymosan stimulated mouse air pouch model, Me-UCH9, reduced in a dose-dependent manner leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) levels in pouch exudates obtained at 4 h, as well as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) generated through COX-2 activation at 24 h. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and myeloperoxidase activity were also strongly inhibited in this model. Me-UCH9 significantly reduced granuloma size and vascular index determined in the murine air pouch granuloma model of angiogenesis. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema, this compound inhibited inflammatory response and pain, as well as PGE(2) and LTB(4) content in paw edematous fluid. Analgesic properties were corroborated in the murine phenyl-p-benzoquinone-induced writhing test. Finally, Me-UCH9 exerted anti-inflammatory effects in the chronic model of rat adjuvant-induced arthritis, both inhibiting paw swelling and reducing PGE(2) content. Our findings confirm that Me-UCH9 can modulate inflammatory and nociceptive responses in relation to the dual inhibition of COX-2 and 5-LO activities presented by this compound.

We developed a microbial prescreen using Bacillus stearothermophilus NUB3620 and bacteriophage TP-68 to detect potential antitumor compounds acting on DNA or topoisomerases. During the course of screening microbial cultures for their antibacteriophage activities, we found that Streptomyces sp. isolated from a soil sample collected in Iwakuni city, Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan, produced a new antitumor antibiotic, UCH9. UCH9 was isolated from culture broth by a combination of EtOAc extraction and column chromatography. UCH9 has a new structure related to the antitumor antibiotic chromomycins. It exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive organisms. UCH9 also showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa S3 cells with an IC50 value of 13 nM and exhibited antitumor activity in vivo against mouse leukemia P388.