Isolation, Purification, and Full NMR Assignments of cyclopamine from Veratrum californicum

Published

June 24, 2009

Author(s)

Daniel W. Bearden, John E. Oatis, Pam Brunsfeld, James W. Rushing, Peter D. Moeller, Thomas N. Gallien, George W. Cooper

Abstract

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is essential for embryogenesis and tissue homeostasis in the adult. However, it may also induce malignancies in a number of tissues when constitutively activated, and it also may have a role in other forms of normal and maladaptive growth in the adult. Cyclopamine, a naturally occurring steroidal alkaloid, is a potent inhibitor of Smoothened, an important response element in the Hh pathway. To use cyclopamine as a tool to explore and/or inhibit the Hh pathway in vivo, a substantial quantity is required, and as a practical matter this has been effectively unavailable. In this paper, we report a rapid and efficient isolation and purification method for large quantities of cyclopamine from the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum californicum Dur. (the Corn Lily or Western false hellebore).

Citation

Chemistry Central Journal

Volume

2

Issue

12

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Cyclopamine, NMR, Hedgehog pathway, Veratrum californicum, Smoothened

Citation

Bearden, D. , Oatis, J. , Brunsfeld, P. , Rushing, J. , Moeller, P. , Gallien, T. and Cooper, G. (2009), Isolation, Purification, and Full NMR Assignments of cyclopamine from Veratrum californicum, Chemistry Central Journal (Accessed October 17, 2025)