TUNICAMYCIN Meaning and
Definition
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Tunicamycin is a naturally occurring antibiotic that is isolated from certain strains of Streptomyces bacteria, particularly Streptomyces lysosuperificus. It belongs to the class of antibiotics known as nucleoside antibiotics, as it is composed of a nucleoside (uracil) bound to a fatty acid tail. Tunicamycin is primarily known for its ability to inhibit the synthesis of glycoproteins, which are proteins that are post-translationally modified by the addition of carbohydrate molecules.
In molecular terms, tunicamycin accomplishes this inhibitory effect by interfering with the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine, an essential building block of glycans, onto the carrier lipid dolichol phosphate in the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. As a result, glycoprotein synthesis is disrupted, leading to the accumulation of misfolded or improperly glycosylated proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequent cellular stress.
Due to its ability to impair glycoprotein synthesis, tunicamycin has been widely used as a research tool in various areas of biology and medicine. It has proven particularly valuable in investigations related to protein folding, protein quality control, and the unfolded protein response. In addition, tunicamycin has also demonstrated potential therapeutic applications, such as antitumor and antiviral activities, making it a subject of interest in drug development research. However, further studies are needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and explore its potential therapeutic properties.
Common Misspellings for TUNICAMYCIN
- runicamycin
- funicamycin
- gunicamycin
- yunicamycin
- 6unicamycin
- 5unicamycin
- tynicamycin
- thnicamycin
- tjnicamycin
- tinicamycin
- t8nicamycin
- t7nicamycin
- tubicamycin
- tumicamycin
- tujicamycin
- tuhicamycin
- tunucamycin
- tunjcamycin
- tunkcamycin
- tunocamycin
Etymology of TUNICAMYCIN
The word "tunicamycin" is derived from the Latin word "tunica" meaning "tunic" and the suffix "-mycin" which is commonly used to refer to antibiotics. The name "tunicamycin" was given due to its original discovery from Streptomyces bacteria found in the tunic (a covering layer) of the bacterium.
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