Dorsomorphin dihydrochloride is a potent inhibitor of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Displays no significant activity on several structurally related kinases including ZAPK, SYK, PKCθ, PKA and JAK3. Dorsomorphin dihydrochloride also inhibits bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors (ALK2, ALK3 and ALK6), promotes cardiomyogenesis in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro and promotes neural differentiation of hPSCs as part of a chemical cocktail. The compound can also be used in protocols for the chemical reprogramming of somatic cells to iPSCs. Shown to induce autophagy in cancer cell lines via a mechanism independent of AMPK inhibition. Also used in a protocol to generate brain organoids from human iPSCs.
