Albomycin

Albomycin is a sideromycin antibiotic that is produced by Streptomyces species. It is a unique antibiotic due to its dual mode of action, which involves both iron transport and inhibition of RNA synthesis. Albomycin is also known as Ferrimycin.

Structure

Albomycin consists of a nucleoside moiety, a peptide moiety, and a ferric ion complexed with a siderophore. The nucleoside moiety is responsible for the inhibition of RNA synthesis, while the siderophore moiety is responsible for the iron transport.

Mechanism of Action

Albomycin works by exploiting the bacterial iron transport system. The siderophore moiety of Albomycin binds to ferric ions, which are then transported into the bacterial cell. Once inside the cell, the nucleoside moiety of Albomycin inhibits RNA synthesis, leading to bacterial death.

Clinical Use

Albomycin has been shown to be effective against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, its clinical use has been limited due to its poor stability and the development of resistance.

Resistance

Resistance to Albomycin can occur through the modification of the bacterial iron transport system or the alteration of the target of the nucleoside moiety. This can result in decreased uptake of Albomycin or decreased binding to its target, respectively.

See Also

• Sideromycin
• Streptomyces
• RNA synthesis
• Gram-positive bacteria
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pneumoniae

References

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