10H-3,10a-Epidithiopyrazino[1,2-a]indole-1,4-dione, 2,3,5a,6-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methyl-, [3R-(3alpha,5abeta,6beta,10aalpha)]-

DescriptionGliotoxin is an immunosuppressive mycotoxin produced by pathogenic strains of Aspergillus and other fungi with diverse biological activities. It inhibits 20S proteasomal chymotrypsin activity (IC50 = 10 μM), blocking the degradation of IκBα and preventing the activation of NF-κB. Gliotoxin induces apoptosis in monocytes and dendritic cells and reduces phagocytosis by neutrophils. It suppresses viral infection by Nipah and Hendra virus in HEK293T cells (IC50s = 149 and 579 nM, respectively). Under reducing conditions, gliotoxin inhibits leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H; ) epoxide hydrolase activity, but not aminopeptidase activity, and leukotriene B4 (LTB4; ) synthesis in neutrophils and monocytes. In vivo, gliotoxin (5 mg/kg) reduces LTB4 plasma levels and blocks peritoneal neutrophil infiltration in a mouse model of peritonitis induced by zymosan A . It also inhibits geranylgeranyltransferase I and farnesyltransferase (IC50s = 17 and 80 μM, respectively).

UsesGliotoxin is a sulfur-containing mycotoxin produced by species of fungi and pathogens of humans. Gliotoxin exhibits inhibitory activities against histone H3K9 methyltransferase, a key enzyme in the re gulation of transcriptional activity by writing epigenetic marks. Gliotoxin also exhibits immunosuppressive properties by causing apoptosis of cells of the immune system. In addition, various studies suggests Gliotoxin may also be a potential anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral agent.

UsesGliotoxin is a potent epithiodioxopiperazine mycotoxin produced by species of Gliocladium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. At the cellular level gliotoxin inhibits a broad range of unrelated mechanisms, including inhibition of chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome and Ca2+ release from mitochondria, activation of transcription factor NF-κB in response to a variety of stimuli in T and B cells, anti-inflammatory activity, and inhibition of farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase. The mode of action appears to be via covalent interaction with proteins through mixed disulphide formation. Gliotoxin inhibits a number of thiol-requiring enzymes and also displays antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity.