Work

Inhibition of Sterol Biosynthesis by Bacitracin

Year: 1972

Type: article

Abstract: Bacitracin is an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of squalene and sterols from mevalonic acid, C(5)-isopentenyl pyrophosphate, or C(15)-farnesyl pyrophosphate catalyzed by preparations from rat liver. The antibiotic is active at extremely low ratios of antibiotic to substrate. The mechanism of inhibition appears to be the formation of a complex between bacitracin, divalent cation, and C(15)-farnesyl pyrophosphate and other isoprenyl pyrophosphates. It is similar to the formation of the complex with C(55)-isopropenyl pyrophosphate in microbial systems. The toxicity of bacitracin for animal cells could be due in part to the formation of these complexes.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.69.5.1287

Authors: K. John Stone, Jack L. Strominger

Institution: Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2118899371

FWCI: 0.783

Cites: 8

Cited by: 30

Related to: 10