Gramicidin
Gramicidin
Gramicidin (/ɡræmɪˈsaɪdɪn/) is a heterogeneous mixture of three antibiotic compounds, gramicidin A, B and C, making up 80%, 6%, and 14% of gramicidin, respectively. All are obtained from the soil bacterial species Bacillus brevis and Bacillus subtilis.
Etymology
The term "gramicidin" is derived from the genus name Bacillus of the bacteria from which it was first isolated, and the suffix "-cidin", which is derived from the Latin "caedere", meaning "to kill".
Function
Gramicidin functions by increasing the permeability of the bacterial cell membrane to inorganic cations. It forms a channel that spans the lipid bilayer, allowing ions to pass through and disrupting the ion balance in the cell. This leads to cell death.
Related Terms
- Antibiotic: A substance that inhibits the growth or destroys microorganisms.
- Bacillus brevis: A species of bacteria from which gramicidin is obtained.
- Bacillus subtilis: Another species of bacteria from which gramicidin is obtained.
- Ion channel: A pore-forming protein that helps establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of all living cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient.
See Also
- Polypeptide: A single linear chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds.
- Cell membrane: A biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gramicidin
- Wikipedia's article - Gramicidin
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