Streptomyces cinnamonensis Ionophores Monensin

Monensins A 2 and B 3 are polyether ionophores produced by Streptomyces cinnamonensis that differ only in the sidechain... 

Polyether metabolites are ionophoric antibiotics which have their major applications in the area of animal husbandry. The distribution of oxygen atoms in these structures predisposes them towards the complexation of alkali metal ions, and their mode of action is considered to depend upon the ability to disrupt the sodium-potassium ion balance across cell membranes. Monensin A from Streptomyces cinnamonensis and tetronasin from Streptomyces longisporoflavus are extensively studied examples of these metabolites. 

Monensin is a carboxylic ionophore isolated from the fermentation broth of a strain of Streptomyces cinnamonensis Monensin can be readily incorporated into biological membranes due to its hydrophobicity... 

In the case of ionophore determination a rather high concentration of the ion to be complexed in the aqueous phase is used while the ionophore is present at a low concentration in the organic phase. Under increasing potential scan the current peak is controlled by diffusion of the ionphore to ITIES and by diffusion of the complex formed from ITIES into the bulk of the organic phase while after scan reversal opposite processes take place. The peak currents are proportional to ionophore concentration. This method has been applied to the determination of monensin in cultures of Streptomyces cinnamonensis [33]. 

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