Altohyrtin A


Altohyrtin A is a polyether macrolide originally isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Hyrtios altum by Kobayashi et al. in 1993, It was also found in an Indian species of Spongia by Pettit et al, and in a Japanese species of Cinachyra by Fusetani et al. It has potent anti-cancer activity.

Mechanism of action

Altohyrtin A binds to the maytansine/rhizoxin site on microtubules.

Biosynthesis

While a producer organism for Altohyrtin A has never been isolated in pure culture, the structural features of Altohyrtin A, such as the 'odd-even' rule of methylation, and the abundance of oxygen heterocycles, suggest it is a product of dinoflagellate polyether metabolism. Alternatively, it may be bacterial in origin.