Mithramycin, also known as plicamycin, is a naturally occurring antineoplastic antibiotic produced by Streptomyces plicatus. It belongs to the aureolic acid family of antitumor antibiotics and acts primarily by binding to DNA and interfering with transcription.
Mithramycin has the CAS Number 18378-89-7, molecular formula C52H76O24, and molecular weight 1085.15 g/mol. It is a complex polyketide-derived natural product used primarily in oncology and pharmacological research.
Mithramycin is a specialized oncology and research pharmaceutical compound with applications in studies involving DNA-binding mechanisms, transcriptional regulation and cancer biology.
Important quality attributes include identity, assay, related substances, degradation products, water content, residual solvents, elemental impurities and chromatographic purity.
CAS Number: 18378-89-7
Molecular Formula: C52H76O24
Molecular Weight: 1085.15 g/mol
Synonyms: Plicamycin, Mithramycin A
Drug Class: Antineoplastic Antibiotic
Therapeutic Area: Oncology
Molecule Type: Natural Product / Polyketide
Chemical Class: Aureolic Acid Glycoside
Mithramycin binds to DNA, particularly GC-rich DNA sequences, in association with divalent metal ions. This interaction can interfere with the binding of transcription factors and suppress transcription of selected genes.
Its biological effects have been investigated in cancer-related pathways, including regulation of gene expression and cellular proliferation.
Mithramycin API is relevant to:
Historically, plicamycin has been used as an antineoplastic agent, although its clinical use has been limited because of its toxicity profile.
Mithramycin has been investigated for its ability to interfere with transcription-dependent cellular processes. Its DNA-binding properties have made it a useful compound in research involving cancer-associated gene expression, transcription factors and tumor-cell proliferation.
Mithramycin is generally described as a yellow to yellow-orange crystalline or amorphous solid. Because it is a complex natural-product molecule, appearance, purity and solid-state characteristics should be controlled according to the applicable API specification.
A controlled Mithramycin production process generally involves biological production and downstream purification:
Typical Mithramycin API testing may include:
Store Mithramycin API in a tightly closed container under controlled pharmaceutical storage conditions, protected from excessive heat, moisture and direct light. Final storage requirements should follow validated stability data and the applicable manufacturer's specification.
Mithramycin is relevant to research involving:
Mithramycin, also known as plicamycin or mithramycin A, is a complex aureolic acid antineoplastic antibiotic with CAS Number 18378-89-7, molecular formula C52H76O24, and molecular weight 1085.15 g/mol. It is primarily relevant to oncology, DNA-binding and transcriptional research.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline powder or crystals |
| Identification | IR & HPLC compliant |
| Assay (HPLC) | 98.0% – 102.0% |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 1.0% |
| Residue on Ignition | NMT 0.5% |
| Heavy Metals | NMT 20 ppm |
| Individual Impurity | NMT 0.5% |
| Total Impurities | NMT 1.0% |
| Water Content | NMT 1.0% |