Assessment of the genotoxicity of Trichoconin VI and VIII in the CHO-K1 cell line

• Grant number: 21/00944-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Alves dos Santos
• Grantee: Julia Mirian Paulino
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The search for natural products with therapeutic properties is a promising field for the discovery of new drugs. In addition, by biotechnology, obtaining it from microbial sources is facilitated due to the versatility of laboratory cultivation. Trichoconin VI (TK-VI) and trichoconin VIII (TK-VIII) are peptaibols isolated from species of endolichenic fungi of the genus Hypocrea sp. and they exhibit antifungal, antiviral and antimalarial activities. However, little is known about the biological effects of TK-VIII, and the mechanisms of action of TK-VI and TK-VIII. Thus, it is interesting to note that a quarter of all discovered biologically active natural products were isolated from fungi, and thus, fungi can be considered important sources for the search for new agents. However, one of the greatest concerns of researchers is the safety related to the use of natural products, due to their toxicity, since pharmaceutical and chemical products may have the ability to cause mutagenic changes after exposure. As a result, it is interesting to search for new molecules with therapeutic potential for cancer, especially in microbial sources with biotechnological potential, aiming at their safety and reliability. Therefore, the present project proposes a genotoxic evaluation of TK-VI and TK-VIII, in order to define whether the two molecules have the capacity to cause DNA damage in the CHO-K1 cell line (Chinese Hamster ovary cell). It is expected that the results obtained in the course of this research proposal may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of action of both molecules and to assist future studies that validate their biological activity.