Apoptolidin A is a 20-membered macrolide shown to be selectively cytotoxic against several cancer cell lines and noncytotoxic against normal cells. The molecule was originally produced by Nocardiopsis species, and its target site was identified as mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase.Apoptolidin induces apoptosis selectively in rat glia cells transformed with the adenovirus oncogene E1A. Several minor apoptolidin congeners were isolated, known as Apoptolidins A-D. All apoptolidins were reported to inhibit growth of H292 cancer cells (lung carcinoma) in the submicromolar range. Recently, a stereo-selective synthesis of the Apoptolidin disaccharide was reported.