What is "actinomycin d"

actinomycin \actinomycin\ n. [From actinomyces, the genus of the organism in which they were first found.] 1. any of various red antibiotics isolated from soil bacteria with a three-ring heterocyclic nucleus with an attached peptide chain.

Note: Actinomycin D is the most well-known and has been used to treat certain tumors. They act by binding to DNA and inhibiting the transcription of RNA. Their binding to DNA has been much studied.

Syn: actinomycin actinomycin C actinomycin F1 actinomycin D

actinomycin D \actinomycin D\ n. [From actinomyces, the genus of the organism in which they were first found.] The most well-known of the actinomycins ( C62H86N12O16), a class of antibiotics which act by binding to DNA and inhibiting synthesis of RNA; they act agains gram-positive bacteria and many eukaryotic organisma. Actinomycin D has been used in human medicine to treat certain tumors.

Syn: dactinomycin, actinomycin IV, Cosmegen[trade name], actinomycin C1, actinomycin I1