Research / Research Highlights

Research Highlights

Research Highlights /

Research Highlights

Prof. Dong-Chan Oh

Rhizolutin, a novel 7/10/6‐tricyclic dilactone, dissociates misfolded protein aggregates and reduces apoptosis/inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease

Rhizolutin ( 1 ) was discovered as a natural product of ginseng‐rhizospheric Streptomyces sp. WON17. Its structure featured an unprecedented 7/10/6‐tricyclic dilactone carbon skeleton composed of dimethylcyclodecatriene flanked by a 7‐membered and a 6‐membered lactone ring based on spectroscopic analysis. During an unbiased screening of natural product libraries, this novel compound was found to dissociate amyloid‐β (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles, which are key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Rhizolutin treatment of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice with AD significantly dissociated hippocampal plaques. In vitro , rhizolutin substantially decreased Aβ‐induced apoptosis and inflammation in neuronal and glial cells. Our findings introduce a unique chemical entity that targets Aβ and tau concurrently by mimicking misfolded protein clearance mechanisms of immunotherapy, which is prominently investigated in clinical trials.

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