Rhizopus chinensis Rhizoxin

Catharanthus roseus) [9]. Maytansine (3) is an ansa macrolyde isolated from Maytenus ovatus [10], and rhizoxin (4) is an antitumor macrolide isolated from the fungus Rhizopus chinensis [11]. Another very important tubulin interactive anti-cancer agent is colchicine (6), and this compound binds to a different binding site of tubulin but is also used in anti-cancer therapy. 

Sato Z, Matsuda I, Noda T. Studies on macrocyclic lactone antibiotics. VII. Structure of a phytotoxin rhizoxin produced by Rhizopus chinensis. J. Antibiot. 1984 37 354-362. 

Rhizoxin D is a 16-membered macrolide isolated from the fungus Rhizopus chinensis Rh-2 and it showed remarkable antimitotic properties. Rhizoxin D was synthesized from four subunits and the final step involved the Stille coupling of the oxazole fragment with an iodolactone [17]. 

A microtubule inhibitor, rhizoxin (Fig. 1) was found in the culture filtrate of Rhizopus chinensis (j>). Subsequently, Iwasaki et al. (7 ) determined the chemical structure of this compound, and the antitubulin activity of rhizoxin was characterized using porcine brain tubulin (j3). 

Rhizoxin (107) is a 16-membered ring phytotoxin macrohde produced by Rhizopus chinensis [133]. It showed potent antifungal and antitumor activities by inhibiting tubufin polymerization [134]. 

Iwasaki, S., Kobayashi, H., Furukawa, J., Namikoshi, M., Okuda, S., Sato, Z., Matsuda, I., and Noda, T. (1984). Studies on macrocyclic lactone antibiotics. Vn. Structure of a phytotoxin rhizoxin produced by Rhizopus chinensis. J. Antibiot. 37, 354—362. 

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