VALINOMYCIN Meaning and
Definition
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Valinomycin is a naturally occurring cyclic depsipeptide that is primarily synthesized by the soil bacterium Streptomyces. It is a potent antibiotic and ionophore, meaning it is capable of transporting metal ions across cell membranes.
The structure of valinomycin consists of a highly flexible macrocycle made up of repeating units of six amino acids, including four valine residues. The macrocycle forms a cavity, which has a high affinity for potassium ions. Valinomycin acts by effectively capturing and transporting only potassium ions across lipid membranes, making it highly specific for this particular ion. This unique property of valinomycin has contributed to its wide use in research laboratories as a selective potassium ion probe.
In addition to its ionophore activity, valinomycin possesses antibacterial properties by disrupting the ionic balance within bacterial cells, leading to cell death. It has been found to be particularly effective against gram-positive bacteria, although its effectiveness against other microorganisms varies.
Due to its complex structure and potent biological activities, valinomycin has gained significant attention as a potential therapeutic agent for various applications, including anticancer and antiviral treatments. However, its clinical use is still limited due to challenges associated with its synthesis and potential side effects. The wide range of biological activities and unique properties of valinomycin continue to make it an intriguing target of research.
Common Misspellings for VALINOMYCIN
- calinomycin
- balinomycin
- galinomycin
- falinomycin
- vzlinomycin
- vslinomycin
- vwlinomycin
- vqlinomycin
- vakinomycin
- vapinomycin
- vaoinomycin
- valunomycin
- valjnomycin
- valknomycin
- valonomycin
- val9nomycin
- val8nomycin
- valibomycin
- valimomycin
- valijomycin
Etymology of VALINOMYCIN
The word "Valinomycin" is derived from its molecular structure and the amino acid valine.
The term "Valinomycin" is composed of two parts: "Valino-" and "-mycin". The first part, "Valino-", comes from the amino acid valine, which is one of the twenty common amino acids found in proteins. Valine derives its name from the Latin word "valere", meaning "to be strong" or "powerful".
The suffix "-mycin" is commonly used in the names of antibiotics, such as streptomycin and erythromycin. It originated from the word "mykes" in Greek, meaning "fungus". Initially, "-mycin" was linked to antibiotics produced by fungi, although it is now used more broadly for various antibiotic compounds.
Therefore, "Valinomycin" refers to a powerful compound related to valine and possessing antibiotic properties.
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