Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Chlorofusin, a Novel p53-MDM2 Antagonist from a Fusarium sp.

Wild-type p53 plays a crucial role in the prevention of cancer. Since dysfunction of p53 can be caused by increased levels of the protein MDM2, small molecules which antagonize the interaction between these two proteins have potential in cancer therapy. The discovery and structure determination of a fungal metabolite, chlorofusin, which antagonizes the p53/MDM2 interaction are reported.