Ionomycin was isolated from Streptomyces conglobatus as a potent Gram positive antibiotic. During isolation, it was recognised that ionomycin exhibits a very high affinity and selectivity for calcium ions, suggesting the metabolite acts as a calcium ionophore. More recently, ionomycin has been used in cell biology as a universal calcium ionophore to explore the role of calcium regulation in the cell.
Ionomycin is soluble in ethanol, methanol, DMF or DMSO. Poor water solubility.
Ionomycin is soluble in ethanol, methanol, DMF or DMSO. Poor water solubility.
| References | Ionomycin, a new polyether antibiotic. Liu W-C. et al. J. Antibiot. 1978, 31, 815. Characterization of ionomycin as a calcium ionophore. Liu C. M. & Herman T. E. J. Biol. Chem. 1978, 253, 5892. |