Discovery of isopenicin A, a meroterpenoid as a novel inhibitor of tubulin polymerization

Microtubules are involved in celluar processes of movement, intracellular trafficking and mitosis, thus microtubule-targeting agents have been widely used in cancer therapy. Herein, we report isopenicin A, a novel meroterpenoid isolated from the plant endophytic fungus of Penicillium sp. sh18, as a novel microtubule binding molecule that efficiently depolymerizes microtubule polymerization to evoke G2/M cell cycle arrest and subsequent cell apoptosis, contributing to proliferation inhibition of human tumor cell lines. The discovery of isopenicin A provides a new chemotype for discovery and development of promising microtubule inhibitors.