Plicamycin
Encyclopedia
Plicamycin is an antineoplastic antibiotic
produced by Streptomyces plicatus
. It is an RNA synthesis inhibitor. The manufacturer discontinued production in 2000.
, Paget's disease of bone
, and, rarely, the management of hypercalcemia.
Plicamycin has been tested in chronic myeloid leukemia.
Plicamycin is currently used in multiple areas of research, including cancer cell apoptosis and as a metastasis inhibitor.
One elucidated pathway shows it interacts by cross-binding chromatin
GC-rich promoter motifs, thereby inhibiting gene transcription.
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
produced by Streptomyces plicatus
Streptomyces
Streptomyces is the largest genus of Actinobacteria and the type genus of the family Streptomycetaceae. Over 500 species of Streptomyces bacteria have been described. As with the other Actinobacteria, streptomycetes are gram-positive, and have genomes with high guanine and cytosine content...
. It is an RNA synthesis inhibitor. The manufacturer discontinued production in 2000.
Uses
Plicamycin has been used in the treatment of testicular cancerTesticular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
, Paget's disease of bone
Paget's disease of bone
Paget's disease is a chronic disorder that can result in enlarged and misshapen bones. The excessive breakdown and formation of bone tissue causes affected bone to weaken, resulting in pain, misshapen bones, fractures, and arthritis in the joints near the affected bones...
, and, rarely, the management of hypercalcemia.
Plicamycin has been tested in chronic myeloid leukemia.
Plicamycin is currently used in multiple areas of research, including cancer cell apoptosis and as a metastasis inhibitor.
One elucidated pathway shows it interacts by cross-binding chromatin
Chromatin
Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. The primary functions of chromatin are; to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis and meiosis and prevent DNA damage, and to control gene...
GC-rich promoter motifs, thereby inhibiting gene transcription.