Oligomycin

Oligomycins are macrolides created by Streptomyces that are strong antibacterial agents but are often poisonous to other organisms, including humans.

Function

Oligomycins have use as antibiotics. However, in humans, they have limited or no clinical use due to their toxic effects on mitochondria and ATP synthase.

Oligomycin A is an inhibitor of ATP synthase. In oxidative phosphorylation research, it is used to prevent stage 3 (phosphorylating) respiration. Oligomycin A inhibits ATP synthase by blocking its proton channel (FO subunit), which is necessary for oxidative phosphorylation of ADP to ATP (energy production). The inhibition of ATP synthesis by oligomycin A will significantly reduce electron flow through the electron transport chain; however, electron flow is not stopped completely due to a process known as proton leak or mitochondrial uncoupling. This process is due to facilitated diffusion of protons into the mitochondrial matrix through an uncoupling protein such as thermogenin, or UCP1.

Administering oligomycin to rats can result in very high levels of lactate accumulating in the blood and urine.