Abstract
COLCHICINE, the main alkaloid of Colchicum autumnale, is well known for its action on the mitotic spindle, resulting in an arrest of mitosis in metaphase. The synthesis of derivatives of this compound is of interest for several reasons. Some were used to elucidate the chemical structure of colchicine. In addition, many of them were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of tumours. Furthermore, such compounds made possible an analysis of relationships between structure and biological activity of the colchicine molecule. In earlier investigations of the relation between structure and activity it was demonstrated that compounds lacking the acetyl group on the side-chain may be equally as active as colchicine1,2. In addition, the methoxy group on the tropolone ring could be replaced by a free or substituted amino group without loss of biological activity3.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lettré, H., and Fernholz, H., Z. physiol. Chem., 278, 175 (1943).
Meier, R., Schär, B., and Neipp, L., Experientia, 10, 74 (1954).
Lettré, H., Angew. Chem., 63, 421 (1952).
Schreiber, J., Leimgruber, W., Pesaro, M., Schudel, P., Threlfall, T., and Eschenmoser, A., Helv. Chim. Acta, 44, 540 (1961).
Dunn, T. B., and Potter, M., J. Nat. Cancer Inst., 18, 587 (1957).
Green, J. P., and Day, M., Biochem. Pharmacol., 3, 190 (1960).
Schindler, R., Day, M., and Fischer, G. A., Cancer Res., 19, 47 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SCHINDLER, R. Desacetylamino-colchicine : a Derivative of Colchicine with Increased Cytotoxic Activity in Mammalian Cell Cultures. Nature 196, 73–74 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/196073b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/196073b0
This article is cited by
-
Desacetylamino-colchicin und-isocolchicin
Die Naturwissenschaften (1966)
-
Zur antimitotischen Wirksamkeit der optischen Antipoden des Colchicins und eines Colchicinderivates
Die Naturwissenschaften (1966)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
