Biomaterial Database

Characterization of chlortetracycline (aureomycin) as a calcium ionophore. 1982

J R White, and F L Pearce

The antibiotic chlortetracycline (aureomycin) is shown to be a potent and specific calcium ionophore. The molecule extracts calcium from an aqueous environment into a bulk organic phase in a pH-dependent manner and with a stoichiometry indicative of a 1:1 complex. The antibiotic has little affinity for other alkaline earth ions or alkali metal ions in this system. The ionophore transports calcium from one aqueous phase to another across an organic solvent barrier and induces a flux of calcium into multilamellar vesicles. The potential use of the compound in examining the role of calcium in the modulation of cellular function is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007476	Ionophores	Chemical agents that increase the permeability of biological or artificial lipid membranes to specific ions. Most ionophores are relatively small organic molecules that act as mobile carriers within membranes or coalesce to form ion permeable channels across membranes. Many are antibiotics, and many act as uncoupling agents by short-circuiting the proton gradient across mitochondrial membranes.	Ionophore
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002412	Cations	Positively charged atoms, radicals or groups of atoms which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis.	Cation
D002751	Chlortetracycline	A TETRACYCLINE with a 7-chloro substitution.	Aureocyclin,Aureomycin,Aureomycine,Biomycin,Chlorotetracycline,Chlortetracycline Bisulfate,Chlortetracycline Hydrochloride,Chlortetracycline Monohydrochloride,Chlortetracycline Sulfate (1:1),Chlortetracycline Sulfate (2:1),Chlortetracycline, 4-Epimer,Chlortetracycline, Calcium Salt,4-Epimer Chlortetracycline,Bisulfate, Chlortetracycline,Calcium Salt Chlortetracycline,Chlortetracycline, 4 Epimer,Hydrochloride, Chlortetracycline,Monohydrochloride, Chlortetracycline,Salt Chlortetracycline, Calcium
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D013053	Spectrophotometry	The art or process of comparing photometrically the relative intensities of the light in different parts of the spectrum.