Neocarzinostatin (NCS)

Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is a macromolecular chromoprotein and an enediyne antitumor antibiotic secreted by Streptomyces macromomyceticus. It consists of a DNA-damaging chromophore and a protein that protects and delivers it to target DNA. NCS induces single- and double-strand breaks in DNA, leading to inhibition of DNA synthesis, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. It has been used clinically in Japan for liver cancer treatment, but its use elsewhere is limited to research due to stability issues. It serves as a radiomimetic agent and a tool for studying cellular responses to genotoxic stress.

Other names

ZinostatinumZINOSTATINVinostatin

Intercalates into DNA; generates benzenoid diradical via Bergman cyclization, leading to single- and double-strand DNA breaks and inhibition of DNA synthesis.