Biological applications of alkaloids derived from the tunicate Eudistoma sp.

摘要

Biological applications of synthetic and natural alkaloids derived from the tunicate Eudistoma sp. are disclosed. A method regulating cell growth includes contacting one or more cells with an effective concentration of a compound for regulating cell growth. These compounds include: Segoline A, Segoline B, Isosegoline A, Norosegoline, Debromoshermilamine, Eilatin, 4-methylpyrido[2,3,4-kl]acridine, pyrido[2, 3,4-kl]acridine, 1-acetyl-2,6-dimethylpyrido[2,3,4-kl]acridine, and derivatives and combinations of these compounds. An effective concentration range for using these compounds can range from approximately 0.1 &mgr;M to 100 &mgr;M. The effective concentration range for Eilatin, the most potent of these compounds is from 0.01 &mgr;M to 0. 99 &mgr;M, and the effective concentration range for the other compounds of the present invention is from about 1.0 &mgr;M to 100 &mgr;M. The method has been shown to suppress growth of tumor cells, to induce differentiation of the tumor cells, and induce reverse transformation of the tumor cells. In transformed cells, the method induces reverse transformation. The method also inhibits the proliferation of cells. The examples show that the method of the present invention affects cyclic AMP mediated biological processes. At the effective concentrations this method affects the cyclic AMP mediated biological processes of cells to achieve the results described above.