Urdamycin V from <i>Streptomyces</i> sp induces p53 independent apoptosis in cervical cancer cells inconsiderate of HPV status and inhibited growth of gram-positive human pathogens

In cervical cancer, loss of p53 or mutant non-functional p53 and hyperactivated mTOR/Akt pathway positively correlates to cancer progression. Urdamycin V isolated from <i>Streptomyces</i> OA293 is a recently isolated novel angucycline derivative that in the present study showcased induction of p53 independent apoptosis in both HPV (Human papillomavirus) positive and negative cervical cancer cell lines. Apoptosis induction was <i>via</i> phosphorylation modulation in the cell growth regulating proteins along mTORC2/Akt/p38/Erk pathway. The compound was also tested against human pathogens and selectively inhibited gram-positive strains, <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. The present study put forward urdamycins as a potential therapeutic that places promise for further research.