title: Biological and pharmacological roles of N6-isopentenyladenosine: an emerging anticancer drug.
abstract: A common modification of eukaryotic and bacterial tRNAs is isopentenylation of the adenosine at position 37, with the formation of isopentenyladenosine. N6-Isopentenyladenosine plays a major role in posttranscriptional processes, including the function of mammalian selenocysteine tRNA. This molecule seems to have metabolic effects that, for its relationships with isoprenoid metabolism and its direct biological activities, affects mammalian cell cytoskeleton, proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, preliminary clinical observation seems to indicate a possible use of N6-Isopentenyladenosine as anticancer drug.
authors.affiliation: Dipartmento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy. maubiful@unisa.it
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malfitano
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Proto
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laezza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007541:Isopentenyladenosine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007541:Isopentenyladenosine