Betaenone Explained

Betaenones are phytotoxins found in the fungus Pleospora betae.^[1] The compounds were found to inhibit a variety of protein kinases.^[2]

Members of this class of chemical compounds include:

• Betaenone A
• Betaenone B
• Betaenone C

Two further betaenones were found in a species of the fungus Microsphaeropsis, which was isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Ichihara A. . Oikawa . Hideaki . Hayashi . Kazuko . Sakamura . Sadao . Furusaki . Akio . Matsumoto . Takeshi . Structures of Betaenones A and B, Novel Phytotoxins from Phoma betae Fr. . J. Am. Chem. Soc. . 1983 . 105 . 2907–2908 . 10.1021/ja00347a070.
2. Patrick, D. . Heimbrook . D . Protein kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. . Drug Discovery Today . 1996 . 1 . 325–330 . 10.1016/1359-6446(96)10030-1.
3. Brauers, G. . Anthraquinones and Betaenone Derivatives from the Sponge-Associated Fungus Microsphaeropsis Species: Novel Inhibitors of Protein Kinases. . Journal of Natural Products . 2000 . 63. 739–745 . 10869191 . 10.1021/np9905259.