Actinomycin

Definition

Actinomycin is an antibiotic produced by several species of Streptomyces bacteria. It is most commonly used in research and chemotherapy due to its ability to inhibit RNA synthesis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Actinomycin binds to DNA and prevents RNA polymerase from transcribing DNA into RNA.
2. It was one of the first antibiotics discovered to have anti-cancer properties.
3. Actinomycin D, also known as dactinomycin, is the most well-known form used in clinical settings.
4. The antibiotic was initially isolated from soil bacteria by Selman Waksman and his team.
5. Due to its toxicity, actinomycin is primarily used in chemotherapy for specific cancers like Wilms' tumor and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Review Questions

• What is the primary mechanism of action for actinomycin?
• In what types of medical treatments is actinomycin most commonly used?
• Who were the key figures involved in the isolation and discovery of actinomycin?

Related terms

Streptomyces: A genus of Gram-positive bacteria known for producing various antibiotics.

Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.

RNA Polymerase Inhibition: The process by which compounds like actinomycin block the transcription of DNA into RNA.