Prodigiosin

Prodigiosin (Prodigiosine) is a red pigment produced by bacteria as a bioactive secondary metabolite. Prodigiosin is a potent inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Prodigiosin has antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, immunosuppressive, and anticancer properties^[1][2]. In Vitro: Prodigiosin (25-500 nM; 24 hours) treatment reduces the viability of breast cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values at 48 h of 62.52 nM in MDA-MB-231 cells and 261.2 nM in MDA-MB-468 cells^[1].
Prodigiosin (25-500 nM; 24 hours) treatment significantly reduces the levels of phosphorylated LRP6 and DVL2, active β-catenin, and total β-catenin. Prodigiosin noticeably inhibits the phosphorylation of GSK3β at Ser9 in HEK293T cells, which is indicative of an increase in GSK3β activity^[1].
Prodigiosin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells^[1].
Prodigiosin (25-500 nM; 24 hours) treatment dose-dependently blocks Wnt signaling activated by Wnt1, Wnt3, Wnt1/LRP6, Wnt3/LRP6, and Dishevelled 2 (DVL2) in transfected HEK293T cells. Prodigiosin treatment inhibits Wnt3A-CM-induced transcription in a dose-dependent manner. Prodigiosin inhibits transcription of the SuperTopFlash reporter activated by either Wnt transfection or Wnt3A treatment^[1].
When applied to cultures of chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans, Prodigiosin causes significant growth inhibition, with MIC values of 10 μM and 50 μM, respectively^[2]. In Vivo: Prodigiosin (5 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection; twice weekly; for 3 weeks) treatment significantly inhibits tumor growth. Prodigiosin treatment decreases tumor cell density and expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67^[1].