Researchers at Northwestern University have determined the exact three-dimensional structures of two molecules from rye pollen that showed promise against tumors nearly three decades ago. The breakthrough removes a long-standing barrier to studying the compounds for potential cancer applications.
Nearly 30 years ago, scientists identified secalosides A and B in rye pollen and observed that the molecules appeared to slow tumor growth in animal models. Without knowing their precise structures, further progress stalled.
Chemists led by Karl A. Scheidt built the molecules from scratch in the laboratory through total synthesis. Only one of two candidate structures matched samples extracted from rye pollen, confirming the correct arrangement.
The work, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, provides a blueprint for examining how the compounds interact with the immune system. Scheidt noted that the findings open a path to identifying active parts of the molecules and developing improved versions.
Rye pollen extract is already used as a dietary supplement for prostate health, though it has not yet become a pharmaceutical treatment.
