Epolones: novel sesquiterpene-tropolones from fungus OS-F69284 that induce erythropoietin in human cells.

In the course of our screening for small molecule modulators of erythropoietin gene expression, two novel sesquiterpene tropolones and pycnidone were isolated from a culture of OS-F69284 (ATCC 74390). Their structures were elucidated by extensive H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopic studies and chemical reactions. These compounds induced erythropoietin gene expression 5-fold at a concentration of 1-1.6 mu M.