Design and synthesis of curacin a analogs with varied side chain structures

A series of side chain-modified analogs of curacin A, a powerful antimitotic agent isolated from a Caribbean cyanobacterium was synthesized and the effect of these compounds on in vitro microtubule polymerization was examined. The analogs showed weak or no anti-tubulin activity, suggesting that the whole side chain structure of curacin A is required for the interaction with tubulin.