Barceloneic Acid A, a New Farnesyl-Protein Transferase Inhibitor from a Phoma Species

Three new diphenyl ethers, barceloneic acids A, B, and barceloneic lactone [1, 2, and 3, respectively] were isolated from a fermentation extract of a fungus of the genus Phoma. The structures of compounds 1-3 were determined by a combination of spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The effect of these compounds on the inhibition of farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase) was evaluated and results are presented. Barceloneic acid A [1] is a novel and modest inhibitor of FPTase with an IC50 value of 40 microM.