Leucanicidin is a natural product and potent nematocide and insecticide belonging to the bafilomycin class. This macrolide bacterial metabolite was originally isolated from Streptomyces halstedii. Lack of access to the pure metabolite has limited its investigation, however structural differences between leucanicidin and the bafilomycins offer scope for investigations into the use of V-ATPases as potential therapeutic targets. Leucanicidin is the 2-O-methyl-L-rhamnosyl derivative of bafilomycin A1.
Leucanicidin is soluble in ethanol, methanol, DMF or DMSO but practically insoluble in water. The product forms methyl ketal during long-term storage in methanol.
| Spectrum | Leucaidiin is active against insects and nematodes. The Bafilomycins have broad-spectrum nematocidal activity. |
| Mechanism of Action | Nematode strains resistant to the known benzimidazole, levamisole and avermectin anthelmintics showed no cross-resistance to the bafilolides, supporting the hypothesis that the bafilolides act by an independent mechanism. |
| Molecular Formula | C42H70O13 |
| References |
The structure of Leucanicidin, a novel insecticidal macrolide produced by Streptomyces halstedii. Agr. Biol. Chem. 48(5):1379-1381 Kondo T et al (2022) Metabolites of soil microorganisms modulate amyloid B production in Alzheimer's neurons. Scientific Reports 12:2690 Lacey E et al (1995) Bafilolides, potent inhibitors of the motiloty and development of the free-living stages of parasitic nematodes. Int. J. Parasitol. 25(3):349-357 |