Nucleoside-type antibiotic isolated from culture filtrates
of Streptomyces tendae (19). Some analogs were also
prepared by mutasynthesis, utilizing a uracil auxotroph of
S. tendae.
Nikkomycins inhibit the growth of various plant pathogenic
fungi but are inactive against bacteria and yeasts.
Too susceptible to photodegradation by sunlight to be
used in field application, and thus not developed commercially
for agricultural use. Among the nikkomycins,
nikkomycin Z is an orally active antifungal therapeutic
agent for coccidioidomycosis. It is a competitive chitin synthase
inhibitor that has been evaluated in mouse models
for coccidioidomycosis.
ChEBI: A uridine-based nucleoside-peptide antibiotic which inhibits fungal chitin biosynthesis by inhibiting chitin synthase.
By inhibiting chitin synthetase in fungi, nikkomycins
inhibit cell wall synthesis, ultimately causing fungal cells
to swell and burst.
There are no detailed reports on metabolism/transformation
of nikkomycins in the environment.
