cotylenin A

Cotylenin A is a bioactive fungal **diterpene glycoside** originally isolated as a plant growth regulator but extensively studied for its **differentiation-inducing** and **anticancer** effects. It possesses a unique tricarbocyclic skeleton (two fused carbocyclic five-membered rings and one eight-membered ring) attached to a sugar moiety. Cotylenin A has demonstrated the ability to induce differentiation in myeloid leukemia cells, suppress tumor growth in various human cancer cell models (including acute myeloid leukemia, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma), and inhibit the expression of pluripotency-associated transcription factors such as **Sox2**. Mechanistically, cotylenin A affects signaling pathways pivotal to cell growth and survival, including inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, modulation of Akt phosphorylation, induction of autophagy, and enhancement of apoptosis especially in combination therapy (e.g., with vincristine or rapamycin)[1][5][3][6]. Cotylenin A also exhibits activity as a stabilizer of **14-3-3 protein-protein interactions**[4]. Recent advances in total chemical synthesis allow for production independent of its original fungal source, which is difficult to cultivate.

Other names

cotylenin ACN-A