Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
49
50
51
coccidia (24). The discovery of monensin led to the development of additional
microbial ionophoric antibiotics such as lasalocid (
50
), narasin (
51
), and salino-
mycin (
52
). All are produced by various
Streptomyces
species and have similar
structures to monensin. This group of compounds forms complexes with the polar
cations K
+
,Na
+
,Ca
2+
,andMg
2+
, severely affecting the osmotic balance in the
parasitic cells and thus causing their death (25).
3.5 ENZYME INHIBITORS
Enzyme inhibitors are compounds that bind to enzymes and decrease their activ-
ity. They have applications in medicine as well as in agriculture as herbicides
