Melampomagnolide B: A new antileukemic sesquiterpene

Melampomagnolide B has been identified as a new antileukemic sesquiterpene. A biotin-conjugated derivative of melampomagnolide B was designed and synthesized in order to elucidate its mechanism of action. A study of the biochemical interactions of the biotin probe suggests that melampomagnolide B derives its remarkable selectivity for leukemic cells over normal hematopoietic cells from its unique ability to exploit biochemical differences between the two cell types. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.