Valinomycin API Manufacturers & Suppliers

Valinomycin (CAS Number 2001-95-8) is a naturally occurring cyclododecadepsipeptide antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces fulvissimus. Structurally, it is composed of three moles each of L-valine, D-alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, D-valine, and L-lactic acid arranged alternately to form a large, 36-membered ring. This complex cyclic structure classifies valinomycin as a member of the depsipeptide family and places it among amino acids, peptides, and proteins with ionophoric properties.

Valinomycin functions as a potassium-selective ionophore. It facilitates the transmembrane transport of potassium ions by forming a complex that enables diffusion across lipid bilayers, thereby disrupting ion gradients. This mechanism influences membrane potential and ion homeostasis in biological membranes. While valinomycin's antimicrobial activity relates to this ion transport modulation, it is primarily utilized as a biochemical tool in research settings rather than in clinical therapy. No formal clinical indications or approved therapeutic uses exist for valinomycin, and it remains classified as an experimental compound.

Pharmacokinetic data including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion parameters for valinomycin are not extensively characterized given its limited use outside research contexts. Its selective ionophoric activity is closely tied to its physicochemical properties and membrane affinity rather than systemic pharmacology.

Safety considerations include its potent ability to disrupt cellular ion gradients, which can lead to cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction at elevated concentrations. Its toxicity profile has restricted valinomycin’s application to controlled experimental environments.

Valinomycin is notable for its inhibition and substrate activity towards membrane transport proteins such as P-glycoprotein and BSEP/ABCB11, which are relevant in studies of drug transport and resistance mechanisms.

When sourcing valinomycin as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for research or industrial purposes, quality control should emphasize batch-to-batch consistency, purity assessed by chromatographic and spectrometric methods, and confirmation of the cyclic peptide structure. Due to its complex biosynthetic origin and potential toxicological effects, suppliers must ensure compliance with handling and regulatory guidelines specific to experimental compounds.