title: Redox sensitive epidithiodioxopiperazines in biological mechanisms of toxicity.
abstract: Epidithiodioxopiperazines (ETPs) are a class of secondary metabolites characterized by a bridged disulfide linkage across the alpha,alpha'-positions of the dioxopiperazine ring. This class of compounds displays a range of biological activities, attributed to the sulfur moiety in the oxidized disulfide form and/or the reduced dithiol form. The underlying mechanisms of toxicity of the ETP metabolites are still a matter of debate and this review presents an overview of the evidence for the possible pathways of toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Faculties, Australian National University, ACT.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010879:Piperazines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D010879:Piperazines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D002118:Calcium