Neocarzinostatin chromophore

Neocarzinostatin chromophore is the cytotoxic small-molecule component of the antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin. It is a naphthoate ester and enediyne natural product produced by *Streptomyces* species. The chromophore is tightly but non-covalently bound to a 113-amino acid apoprotein in the native complex; this protein protects the highly labile and reactive chromophore until it reaches its target. Upon release—often triggered by intracellular thiols—the chromophore undergoes activation (including Bergman cyclization), generating a benzenoid diradical that induces single- and double-strand DNA breaks via intercalation and radical-mediated cleavage. This results in potent inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell death. The compound exhibits both antitumor activity (notably used clinically in Japan for liver cancer) and antibiotic activity against Gram-positive bacteria[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Other names

Neocarzinostatin chromophoreNcs-chromNCS-chrNeocarzinostatin chromophore I