Mensacarcin

Mensacarcin, a highly complex polyketide, strongly inhibits cell growth universally in cancer cell lines and potently induces apoptosis in melanoma cells. Mensacarcin targets to mitochondria, affects energy metabolism in mitochondria, and activates caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways. Mensacarcin, an antibiotic, can be used as a cytotoxic component of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)^[1][2]. In Vitro: Mensacarcin (0-100 μM; 24 hours) exhibits general cytostatic but type-specific cytotoxic effects for melanoma cells^[1].
Mensacarcin (2-50 μM; 15 hours) induces rapid apoptotic cell death in melanoma cells^[1].
Mensacarcin exhibits potent cytostatic properties (mean of 50% growth inhibition=0.2 μM) in almost all cell lines of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-60 cell line screen and relatively selective cytotoxicity against melanoma cells. Mensacarcin is a highly oxygenated polyketide that was first isolated from soil-dwelling Streptomyces bacteria. Mensacarcin impairs mitochondrial function in melanoma cells^[1].