Antimycin A

Antimycins are a group of secondary metabolites produced by Streptomyces bacteria. It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States, as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities. Antimycins are a group of secondary metabolites produced by Streptomyces bacteria. It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States, as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities. Antimycin A is the active ingredient in Fintrol, a chemical piscicide (fish poison) used in fisheries management. Antimycin A was first discovered in 1945 and registered for use as a fish toxicant in 1960. Fintrol ® is the only currently registered product containing Antimycin A and is classified as a restricted use pesticide because of its aquatic toxicity and requirement for highly specialized training in order to use it. In 1993, several toxicology studies were submitted to the United State Environmental Protection Agency yielding its toxicity. Fintrol is used primarily by federal and state governments in order to eliminate invasive species in an area where resident species are threatened. Antimycin A is added drop-wise in order to reach a concentration of 25 parts per billion. These drip stations are typically used upstream in an area that is accessible to boats and traffic. In deeper bodies of water, a pump mechanism is used to disperse Antimycin A through a perforated hose stretching the length of the water column. In aquaculture, Antimycin A is used as an agent to enhance catfish production via selective killing small and more sensitive species. When Antimycin A is added at 25 ppb it provides a complete kill. However at 10 ppb, Antimycin A is used as a selective killing agent to kill smaller or more sensitive species that may reduce the yield of commercial farming. Products Containing Antimycin A can be registered providing they follow risk mitigation procedures. To date there has been no usage in human medicine, although its possibility as a chemotherapeutic was explored. Antimycin A is an inhibitor of cellular respiration, specifically oxidative phosphorylation. Antimycin A binds to the Qi site of cytochrome c reductase, inhibiting the oxidation of ubiquinone in the Qi site of ubiquinol thereby disrupting the Q-cycle of enzyme turn over. It also will cause the disruption of the entire electron transport chain. Due to this, there can be no production of ATP. Cytochrome c reductase is a central enzyme in the electron transport chain of oxidative phosphorylation.The inhibition of this reaction disrupts the formation of the proton gradient across the inner membrane of the mitochondria. The production of ATP is subsequently inhibited, as protons are unable to flow through the ATP synthase complex in the absence of a proton gradient. This inhibition also results in the formation of the toxic free radical superoxide. The rate of superoxide production exceeds the cellular mechanisms to scavenge it, overwhelming the cell and leading to cell death. It has also been found to inhibit the cyclic electron flow within photosynthetic systems along the proposed ferredoxin quinone reductase pathway.