Small molecule inhibitor of p53-mediated gene activation and apoptosis; the name pifithrin is an abbreviation for p-fifty three inhibitor. Converted in vitro to the planar tricyclic condensation product, pifithrin-β. Prepn: A. Singh et al., Indian J. Chem. 14B, 997 (1976). Identification of p53 inhibition: P. G. Komarov et al., Science 285, 1733 (1999). Synthesis and neuroprotective activity: X. Zhu et al., J. Med. Chem. 45, 5090 (2002). Inhibition of heat shock and glucocorticoid signal transduction pathways: E. A. Komarova et al., J. Biol. Chem. 278, 15465 (2003). Characterization as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist: M. S. Hoagland et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 314, 603 (2005). Conversion to pifithrin-β: R. K. Gary, D. A. Jensen, Mol. Pharm. 2, 462 (2005).
Crystal structure: W. Clegg, C. Jamieson, Acta Crystallogr. E61, o1486 (2005).