Staurosporine

Staurosporine is a potent inhibitor of protein kinases, which are enzymes that modify other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them. Discovered in the 1970s from the bacterium Streptomyces staurosporeus, staurosporine has been extensively studied for its potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the field of oncology.

History

Staurosporine was first isolated in 1977 from the bacterium Streptomyces staurosporeus. The compound was named after the bacterium from which it was derived. Since its discovery, staurosporine has been the subject of extensive research due to its potent protein kinase inhibitory activity.

Biochemical Activity

Staurosporine is a potent, non-selective inhibitor of protein kinases. It inhibits these enzymes by binding to their ATP-binding sites, thereby preventing them from phosphorylating their substrate proteins. This broad-spectrum activity has made staurosporine a valuable tool in biochemical research for studying the roles of various protein kinases.

Therapeutic Potential

Due to its ability to inhibit a wide range of protein kinases, staurosporine has been studied for its potential therapeutic applications. Most notably, it has been investigated as a potential treatment for cancer, as many types of cancer are driven by the abnormal activity of protein kinases. However, the non-selective nature of staurosporine's inhibitory activity has also raised concerns about potential side effects, as protein kinases play crucial roles in many normal cellular processes.

See Also

• Protein kinase
• Inhibitor
• Cancer
• Streptomyces