Caldoramide
# Caldoramide

Caldoramide is a pentapeptide isolated from the cyanobacteria Caldora penicillata. It has cytotoxic effects on cancer cells and has been the subject of extensive oncological research. It is structurally analogous to belamide A and dolastatin 15. Its appearance is that of a powdery, white, substance.

## Structure

The N-terminus for Caldoramide is N,N-dimethylvaline which is attached to a valine which is attached to an N-Me-valine connected to an N-Me-isoleucine which is attached to the C-terminus. The molecule can also be written as N,N-diMe-Val-Val-N-Me-Val-N-Me-Ile-3-O-Me-4-benzylpyrrolinone.

## Extraction

Freeze-dried samples of Caldora penicillata had EtOAc−MeOH and $H_2O−EtOH$ applied to them in order to extract Caldoramide. The extracts were partitioned with n-BuOH and $H_2O$ and then fractions were taken based on solubility in either EtOAc or BuOH. Caldoramide was extracted from the BuOH soluble fraction.

## Pharmacological activity

Caldoramide has been found to be cytotoxic against HCT116 colorectal cancer cell lines.

