Nigericin
Nigericin is an antibiotic derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Its isolation from soil from Nigeria was described in the 1950s, by R.L Harned (et. al),[1][2] and in 1968 the structure could be elucidated by X-ray crystallography.[3] The structure and properties of nigericin are similar to the antibiotic monensin. Commercially it is obtained as a byproduct, or contaminant, at the fermentation of geldanamycin. It is also called polyetherin A, azalomycin M, helixin C, antibiotic K178, and antibiotic X-464.
Nigericin acts as an H+, K+, Pb2+ ionophore. Most commonly it is an antiporter of H+ and K+.
In the past nigericin was used as an antibiotic active against gram positive bacteria. It inhibits the Golgi functions in Eukaryotic cells. Its ability to induce K+ efflux also makes it a potent activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome[4][5]
References
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