Abstract
The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is an excellent model organism for the study of cell and developmental biology because of its simple life cycle and ease of use. Recent findings suggest that Dictyostelium and possibly other genera of cellular slime molds, are potential sources of novel lead compounds for pharmacological and medical research. In this review, we present supporting evidence that cellular slime molds are an untapped source of lead compounds by examining the discovery and functions of polyketide differentiation-inducing factor-1, a compound that was originally isolated as an inducer of stalk-cell differentiation in D. discoideum and, together with its derivatives, is now a promising lead compound for drug discovery in several areas. We also review other novel compounds, including secondary metabolites, that have been isolated from cellular slime molds.
Highlights
Natural products have been used as medicines and for drug development since ancient times and natural product chemistry remains important in the fields of drug discovery, structure elucidation and chemical synthesis
[30,32], produce an abundance of secondary metabolites that could be used. This suggests that Dictyostelium cellular slime molds and possibly other genera of cellular slime as novel lead compounds for drug discovery
Since the monochasiols can potentially be biogenetically synthesized by combining biosynthetic enzymes related to the principal polyketides DIF-1 and MPBD produced by D. discoideum, Dictyostelium cellular slime molds may produce a diverse range of monochasiol-based secondary metabolites
Summary
Natural products have been used as medicines and for drug development since ancient times and natural product chemistry remains important in the fields of drug discovery, structure elucidation and chemical synthesis. Dictyostelium cellular slime molds and possibly of restricted spectrum ofsuggests organism not directly necessary for their growth other and genera reproduction. Cellular slime molds [30,32], produce an abundance of secondary metabolites that could be used. This suggests that Dictyostelium cellular slime molds and possibly other genera of cellular slime as novel lead compounds for drug discovery. Molds [30,32], produce an abundance of secondary metabolites that could be used as novel lead. Among the data on the candidate lead compounds our group has reported to date, we have compounds for drug discovery. Made most progress regarding elucidation of the biological and pharmacological activities of the
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