(796.2) Determining Antibiotic and Anti-cancer Potential of Small Compounds

Poster Board Number: A153

Maegan Manning (Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Hobart and William Smith Colleges), Patricia Mowery (Hobart and William Smith Colleges)

Natural compounds are important leads for drug discovery. Staurosporine, which is produced by a Streptomyces species, has anti-cancer properties but is too toxic for treatment. Analogs have been synthesized in the hopes of targeting cancer with less side effects. 

The Pelkey research group has made staurosporine analogs which the Mowery lab tests for biology activity. Recently, one compound was found to be highly potent against cancer cells and induce death by binding tubulin. Tubulin is a eukaryotic protein that is necessary for cell division. Because bacteria have a homologous protein, Fts-Z, we wanted to determine if compounds acted as antibiotics. In addition, the Pelkey group has synthesized a suite of new compounds that are isomeric to our previously most potent ones. We are testing these compounds for anti-cancer activity to determine what structural parameters are necessary to induce cell death.