Application

Roquefortine C has been used as a standard for the quantification of roquefortine C by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It has also been used as a standard for the quantification of roquefortine C by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS).

Biochem/physiol Actions

Roquefortine C is a paralytic neurotoxin of a dioxopiperazine structure produced by a diverse range of fungi, most notably Penicillium species. It has been found in blue cheese and in many other food products due to natural occurrence and contamination. Roquefortine C was found to be active on a wide range of organisms. It inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, and cockerels treated with roquefortine lost their righting reflex and died within 8-12 hours. Mice injected with roquefortine C experienced neurotoxic properties. Roquefortine C was also reported to inhibit cytochrome P450 as well as tubulin polymerization.

Preparation Note

Soluble in methanol (10 mg/mL), DMSO (10 mg/mL), ethyl acetate (1 mg/mL) and chloroform (1 mg/mL). DMSO solution at 10 mg/mL is stable for 3 months at −20 °C.