Austocystin D, a natural compound produced by fungi, has been recognized for its cytotoxic effects and anticancer activity in various cell types. It exhibits potent activity even in cells that express proteins associated with multidrug resistance, attracting significant global research interest. Austocystin D promotes cell death by damaging their DNA, a process which might be dependent on cytochrome P450 (CYP) oxygenase enzymes.
Notably, austocystin D has shown significant activity against cancer cells with increased CYP expression. However, the specific role and function of the CYP2J2 enzyme in the cytotoxicity of austocystin D remain to be determined. Against this backdrop, a team of researchers from the Tokyo University of Science in Japan has successfully unveiled the mechanism of action of austocystin D involving CYP2J2.
The research team included Ms. Yukiko Kojima and Professor Mahito Sadaie, both from the Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Japan, among others. They employed an innovative research approach that combined genetic silencing techniques with growth inhibition assays in cell line models.
Their pioneering findings were published online in the journal Cancer Science on July 15, 2024. Initially, the researchers utilized data from the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research 39 to analyze the correlation between austocystin D sensitivity and CYP expression in cancer cells. By analyzing gene mar.