An inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A
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Cantharidin

Item No. 14589

Technical Information
Formal Name
(3aR,4S,7R,7aS)-rel-hexahydro-3a,7a-dimethyl-4,7-epoxyisobenzofuran-1,3-dione
CAS Number
56-25-7
Synonyms
  • NSC 61805
Molecular Formula
C10H12O4
Formula Weight
Purity
≥98%
Formulation
A solid
SMILES
O=C1OC([C@]2(C)[C@H]3CC[C@H](O3)[C@@]21C)=O
InChi Code
InChI=1S/C10H12O4/c1-9-5-3-4-6(13-5)10(9,2)8(12)14-7(9)11/h5-6H,3-4H2,1-2H3/t5-,6+,9+,10-
InChi Key
DHZBEENLJMYSHQ-XCVPVQRUSA-N
Shipping & Storage Information
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere
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    Product Description

    Cantharidin is a natural toxin produced by blister beetles that moderately inhibits protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) (IC50 = 1.7 μM) and PP2A (IC50 = 0.2 μM) and only weakly inhibits the activity of PP2B (IC50 = 1 mM).1,2 It has been shown to stimulate cell cycle progression and induce premature mitosis, used topically (0.7%) as an anti-wart treatment, and has been shown to be active in cervical, tongue, neuroblastoma, bone, leukemia, ovarian, colon, and various other cancer cell lines.2

    WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

    References & Product Citations
    Product Description References

    1. Honkanen, R.E. Cantharidin, another natural toxin that inhibits the activity of serine/threonine protein phosphatases types 1 and 2A. FEBS Lett. 330(3), 283-286 (1993).

    2. McCluskey, A., Sim, A.T.R., and Sakoff, J.A. Serine-threonine protein phosphatase inhibitors: Development of potential therapeutic strategies. J. Med. Chem. 45(6), 1151-1175 (2002).