Beta-sitosterol (MOL000358) exhibits the largest number of target connections (18), followed by Stigmasterol (MOL000449) with 15 potential targets and Acacetin (MOL001689), Tryptantherin (MOL001808) and
Indirubin (MOL002309) with 13 potential targets.
The pathogenesis begins with the metabolism of tryptophan to indole, which is absorbed and detoxified to indoxyl sulfate (liver), and finally excreted by bacteria with sulfatase and/or phosphatase that metabolize indoxyl to
indirubin (red) and indigo (blue) (3).
[1] This condition is characterized by purple discoloration of urine in the urine bag because of the presence of the pigments, indigo and
indirubin. It is usually seen in chronically catheterized, constipated, bedridden elderly women.
Characterization of a forest soil metagenome clone that confers
indirubin and indigo production on Escherichia coli.
For example the bis-indole alkaloid
indirubin occasionally present in human urine was amongst the initial cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 7].
Indoxyl sulfate is further reduced to indigo or
indirubin via an oxidation pathway mitigated by bacterial enzymes.
Indoxyl sulfate was excreted into the urine and metabolized by bacteria to produce indigo (blue) and
indirubin (red, [Figure 2]).{Figure 2}
Endicott et al., "
Indirubin, the active constituent of a Chinese antileukaemia medicine, inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases," Nature Cell Biology, vol.
[2] reported the cells of Escherichia coli expressing biphenyl dioxygenase and biphenyl-2,3-dihydrodiol-2,3-dehydrogenase of Dyella ginsengisoli LA-4 transformed indole to indigo,
indirubin, and isatin.
The indoxyl turns into indigo which is blue in color and
indirubin which is red in color.
Indirubin is a CDKI that has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years and is currently being used in clinical trials for CML (19).
This phenomenon is due to the presence of indigo and
indirubin in the collected urine.