The Inhibitory Effect of Manumycin A on Extracellular Vesicles: What Do We Know So Far?

Manumycin A (MA) is a natural antibiotic produced by Streptomyces parvulus, originally reported as a selective Ras farnesyltransferase inhibitor. Over the years, it has been established as a valuable agent in the studies of the molecular biology of cancer. Recent interest in the use of MA as an inhibitor of extracellular vesicles (EV) shows new perspectives for this small molecule in view of the urgent need for effective molecular tools for this application. This review summarizes the current knowledge on Manumycin A, with a particular focus on its potential utility in EV-related biomedical studies. The inhibitory mechanism and possible application limitations are discussed, and current results of studies involving MA have been presented. Conclusions include remarks that the actual cellular response can vary depending on cell type and dose, and due to the risk of cytotoxic effects, MA requires a cautious approach. Although available data indicate that Manumycin A may be considered to be used as an inhibitor of extracellular vesicles, the exact mechanism of action still requires further comprehensive investigation. Therefore, it would be desirable for any study that uses Manumycin A as an inhibitor to also include a thorough characterization of the effect of the dose on cells and extracellular vesicles using various research techniques.