Cerulenin, the best known natural inhibitor of fatty acid synthase (FAS), is an epoxide produced by the fungus Cephalosporium caeruleus.
Cerulenin covalently binds to the catalytic site of FAS and disrupts the condensation reaction of acetyl-COA and malonyl-COA, inhibiting the biosynthesis of fatty acids and sterols in yeast. The Flavonoids quercetin and trans-Chalcone are effective against T. rubrum, with MICs of 125 and 7.5 μg/mL for the wild-type strain (MYA3108) and of 63 and 1.9 μg/mL for the ABC transporter mutant strain (ΔTruMDR2), respectively. The MICs of the Fluconazole and Cerulenin controls are 63 and 125 μg/mL for the wild-type strain and 30 and 15 μg/mL for the mutant strain, respectively[1]. To explore the underlying mechanism of Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)’s protective effect on endothelial dysfunction model, the inhibitor of fatty acid synthase and HMG-CoA reductase, Cerulenin ( 5 μg/mL) and Lovastatin, are used before palmitic acid (PA) added. The mRNA expression of IL-1β, TNFα, VCAM-1 and IL-6 are reduced while NO production is recovered with inhibitor treatment[2].
Cerulenin treatment of ob/ob mice has obvious effects on body weight. With 2 days of treatment, body weight in treated mice is decreased compared to a 5.7% weight gain in the controls. With prolonged (7 days) treatment, no body weight loss is observed, but body weight gain is slowed. In all groups, 60 mg/kg of Cerulenin is more effective than 30 mg/kg in inhibiting weight gain. If given daily or every other day, ATP content are increased 58.1% and 61.5% respectively by 7-day treatment of 60 mg/kg Cerulenin. Significant ATP elevation is also observed with only 2 days of treatment with 60 mg/kg Cerulenin. In contrast, 30 mg/kg Cerulenin, given either 2 or 7 days, does not show any significant effect on cellular ATP content[3].
Reference:
[1]. Bitencourt TA, et al. Trans-chalcone and quercetin down-regulate fatty acid synthase gene expression and reduce ergosterol content in the human pathogenic dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Sep 17;13:229.
[2]. Tian D, et al. Overexpression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in rat aortic endothelial cells attenuates palmitic acid-induced inflammation and reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2012 Nov 21;11:144.
[3]. Cheng G, et al. Cerulenin blockade of fatty acid synthase reverses hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 27;8(9):e75980.
Cerulenin covalently binds to the catalytic site of FAS and disrupts the condensation reaction of acetyl-COA and malonyl-COA, inhibiting the biosynthesis of fatty acids and sterols in yeast. The Flavonoids quercetin and trans-Chalcone are effective against T. rubrum, with MICs of 125 and 7.5 μg/mL for the wild-type strain (MYA3108) and of 63 and 1.9 μg/mL for the ABC transporter mutant strain (ΔTruMDR2), respectively. The MICs of the Fluconazole and Cerulenin controls are 63 and 125 μg/mL for the wild-type strain and 30 and 15 μg/mL for the mutant strain, respectively[1]. To explore the underlying mechanism of Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR)’s protective effect on endothelial dysfunction model, the inhibitor of fatty acid synthase and HMG-CoA reductase, Cerulenin ( 5 μg/mL) and Lovastatin, are used before palmitic acid (PA) added. The mRNA expression of IL-1β, TNFα, VCAM-1 and IL-6 are reduced while NO production is recovered with inhibitor treatment[2].
Cerulenin treatment of ob/ob mice has obvious effects on body weight. With 2 days of treatment, body weight in treated mice is decreased compared to a 5.7% weight gain in the controls. With prolonged (7 days) treatment, no body weight loss is observed, but body weight gain is slowed. In all groups, 60 mg/kg of Cerulenin is more effective than 30 mg/kg in inhibiting weight gain. If given daily or every other day, ATP content are increased 58.1% and 61.5% respectively by 7-day treatment of 60 mg/kg Cerulenin. Significant ATP elevation is also observed with only 2 days of treatment with 60 mg/kg Cerulenin. In contrast, 30 mg/kg Cerulenin, given either 2 or 7 days, does not show any significant effect on cellular ATP content[3].
Reference:
[1]. Bitencourt TA, et al. Trans-chalcone and quercetin down-regulate fatty acid synthase gene expression and reduce ergosterol content in the human pathogenic dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Sep 17;13:229.
[2]. Tian D, et al. Overexpression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in rat aortic endothelial cells attenuates palmitic acid-induced inflammation and reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2012 Nov 21;11:144.
[3]. Cheng G, et al. Cerulenin blockade of fatty acid synthase reverses hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 27;8(9):e75980.