Signal-transduction cascades as targets for therapeutic intervention by natural products.

Published

Journal Article (Review)

Many bacteria and fungi produce natural products that are toxic to other microorganisms and have a variety of physiological effects in animals. Recent studies have revealed that, in several cases, the targets of these agents are components of conserved signal-transduction cascades. This article looks at the mechanisms of action of five natural products--the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A, FK506 and rapamycin, and the antiproliferative agents wortmannin and geldanamycin. These mechanisms reveal the importance of signal-transduction cascades as targets for therapeutic intervention and the enormous utility of studies of natural-product action in simple model genetic systems.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Cardenas, ME; Sanfridson, A; Cutler, NS; Heitman, J

Published Date

  • October 1998

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 16 / 10

Start / End Page

  • 427 - 433

PubMed ID

  • 9807840

Pubmed Central ID

  • 9807840

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1879-3096

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0167-7799

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/s0167-7799(98)01239-6

Language

  • eng