Antimycin

Antimycin A is an antibiotic substance produced by Streptomyces bacteria. It was first discovered and isolated in 1940s, but its molecular structure was determined only a few years later. Antimycin is a mitochondrial inhibitor which is involved in the energy-coupling site of the respiratory system. Antimycin A works by inhibiting the flow of electrons between cytochrome b and cytochrome C1. It was first discovered as an effective fungicide which inhibited fungal growth, while most of the bacteria were unaffected. Because of such properties, antimycin was of great interest for commerical uses in agriculture. This led to many studies about its mechanism of action, function, and its preparation. In the early 1960s, it was discovered that antimycin was toxic to fish which led to it being used in many fishery conservation projects across North America. Antimycin is now used as a commerical fish toxicant and is the active ingredient in Fintrol, a commerical piscicide used in fisheries management and in the catfish industry. Researchers found that the toxic effects of antimycin were a result of their inhibitory effects on mitochondrial respiration, which disrupt and impair metabolic pathways.
Antimycin A Physical Properties
Molecular Formula: C28H40N2O9
Melting Point: 300.2 ° F (EPA, 1998)
Molar Mass: 548.63 g/mol
Colour/Form:Crystals
Antimycin A Physical Properties
Molecular Formula: C28H40N2O9
Melting Point: 300.2 ° F (EPA, 1998)
Molar Mass: 548.63 g/mol
Colour/Form:Crystals

How Antimycin Affects the Function of Mitochondria First, antimycin A binds to the Q site of cytochrome c reductase, inhibiting the oxidation of ubiquinol in the electron transport chain of oxidative phosphorylation. This inhibition disrupts the formation of the proton gradient across the inner membrane. Because protons are unable to flow through the ATP synthase complex in the absence of a proton gradient, the

Cited: "Antimycin A (CAS 1397-94-0)." Antimycin A. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.scbt.com/datasheet-202467-antimycin-a.html>. "Antimycin A - PubChem." Antimycin A - PubChem. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=12550>. "Antimycin A." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimycin_A>. "Conditions Influencing Antimycin Production by a Streptomyces Species Grown in Chemically Defined Medium." Conditions Influencing Antimycin Production by a Streptomyces Species Grown in Chemically Defined Medium. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://aac.asm.org/content/1/3/274.long>. "Search Chemicals." ANTIMYCIN A. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/4866>.