solanocapsine

Solanocapsine is a steroidal alkaloid naturally found in the Jerusalem cherry (*Solanum pseudocapsicum*). It has been identified as a selective synthetic lethal inducer in BRCA2-deficient cancer cells. Chemoproteomic profiling revealed that solanocapsine acts as an inhibitor of deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), a rate-limiting enzyme in the deoxyribonucleoside salvage pathway. By inhibiting dCK, solanocapsine restricts the nucleotide supply during mitosis, selectively triggering cell death in BRCA2-deficient contexts. While solanocapsine itself is a toxic alkaloid, it serves as a chemical starting point for the development of more potent dCK-inhibiting analogs for the treatment of BRCA2-deficient malignancies.

Other names

solanocapsin