Apicidin #90826

Apicidin is a fungal metabolite, broad-spectrum antiprotozoal agent. This small molecule inhibits histone deacetylases (HDACs), known to moderate histone acetylation and chromatin folding during gene expression (1,2). Apicidin has been shown to irreversibly prevent the development of intracellular Apicomplexan parasites in vitro through HDAC inhibition (IC₅₀ = 0.7 nM) (1). Research indicates that Apicidin inhibits tumor cell proliferation through gene expression changes of p21WAF1/Cip1 and gelsolin, and can cause cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase (2). Apicidin also decreases HIF-1α protein levels in human and mouse cell lines (3). HDAC2 has been recognized as a host immune response to the influenza A virus and several other viruses, making HDAC inhibitors important compounds to study in relation to viral diseases (4,5).