[Molecular modelling of usambarensine, tubulosine and emetine, cytotoxic amebicide alkaloids].

The analyses of the different possible conformations of usambarensine, tubulosine and emetine, which possess interesting cytotoxic and amoebicide properties showed us that they cannot take the planar conformation proposed to explain the activity of this type of molecules on protein synthesis. Nevertheless, a common (non planar) conformation exists where the angles between the two plans containing the aromatic rings are nearly the same for the three compounds. This fact could confirm the hypothesis of a common receptor which would be slightly different in amoebae because of its higher sensitivity to usambarensine.