Valinomycin

Valinomycin is a cyclododecadepsipeptide antibiotic originially isolated from Streptomyces strains and displays antibacterial efficacy. Valinomycin a neutral ionophore that selectively transfers alkali metal ions via biological and synthetic lipid membranes. Valinomycin is widely used as a selective potassium (K+)-selective ionophore (over Na+) and is an important research tool for membrane and membrane vesicles studies. As ionophore valinomycin has found application as a biosensor to detect potassium (K+) efflux. Valinomycin induces apoptosis in several cell types, including CHO cells, by stimulating potassium efflux and leading to phosphatidylserine membrane translocation, caspase-3 activation, inducing mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress. Valinomycin shows antitumor, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal and antibacterial effects. Valinomycin as a mitophagy activator also plays a positive role in the treatment of Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease. It was recently reported to have antiviral activity against several coronaviruses (FIPV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, HCoV-OC43 or SARS-CoV2).