Actinomycin is used only in research applications or cancer treatment because it is active against both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
How does actinomycin work?
- Actinomycin D inhibits RNA synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells thus blocking transcription.
- Actinomycin was first isolated from Streptomyces antibioticus.
- These bind to the DNA at the site of transcription initiation complex and prevent the activity of DNA dependent RNA polymerase.
- By blocking the metabolic machinery of cells (RNA synthesis), actinomycin prevents the growth of cells. Therefore used in cancer treatment to prevent uncontrolled proliferation of cells.
- As it can also act on eukaryotic cells so it is not used as an antimicrobial drug as it can harm the cells of our body.
- However it can be used in research to prevent microbial growth in petri plates.
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