title: The complex nature of the mechanism of toxicity of antibiotic dithiacyclohexadiene polyines (thiarubrines) from the asteraceae.
abstract: Thiarubrine A, a dithiacyclohexadiene polyine from the roots of Chaenactis douglasii, and a related dithiacyclohexadiene from Rudbeckia hirta exhibit strong light-independent antibacterial and antifungal activity. This activity is enhanced by exposure to visible light. Visible light also converts the compounds to the corresponding thiophenes. These are antibiotic only when irradiated with UV-A. Dithiacyclohexadienes are the first polyines to exhibit such complex mechanisms of toxicity towards microorganisms.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Constabel
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Towers
mesh_terms: D000480:Alkynes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000032:analysis*; D053279:Polyynes; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes; C051763:thiophene A; D053279:Polyynes; C044836:thiarubrine A