N,N’-Diphenethylurea (Synonyms: 1,3-Diphenethylurea, NSC 25433)

N,N’-Diphenethylurea is a bacterial metabolite that has been found in Streptomyces and has diverse biological activities.¹ It inhibits Streptomyces chitin synthase 1 (IC₅₀ = 14 µg/ml) but not C. albicans chitin synthase 2 when used at concentrations up to 280 µg/ml. N,N’-Diphenethylurea is active against the fungus C. neoformans and the plant pathogenic fungus R. solani (MIC = 50 µg/ml for both).² It enhances insulin-induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 and C3H/10T1/2 cells when used at concentrations of 30 and 100 µM.³

1.Iwai, Y., Hirano, A., Awaya, J., et al.1,3-Diphenethylurea from Streptomyces sp. No. AM-2498J. Antibiot. (Tokyo)31(4)375-376(1978) 2.Kim, N.R., Hwang, E.I., Bong, S.K., et al.Isolation of Candida albicans chitin synthase 1 inhibitor from Steptomyces sp. A6705 and its characterizationJ. Microbiol. Biotechnol.15(4)895-898(2005) 3.Choi, S.-S., Cha, B.-Y., Kagami, I., et al.N,N’-diphenethylurea isolated from Okinawan ascidian Didemnum molle enhances adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cellsJ. Antibiot. (Tokyo)64(3)277-280(2011)