Proton-shuttling lichen compound usnic acid affects mitochondrial and lysosomal function in cancer cells.

The lichen compound usnic acid (UA) is a lipophilic weak acid that acts as a proton shuttle and causes loss of mitochondrial inner membrane potential. In the current study we show that UA treatment induced the formation of autophagosomes in human cancer cells, but had minimal effects on normal human...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Margret Bessadottir, Mar Egilsson, Eydis Einarsdottir, Iris H Magnusdottir, Margret H Ogmundsdottir, Sesselja Omarsdottir, Helga M Ogmundsdottir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3515546?pdf=render