VALINOMYCIN CAS:2001-95-8 Manufacturer Price

Valinomycin primarily functions as an ionophore, meaning it facilitates the transport of specific ions across cell membranes. Its most notable effect is its strong affinity for potassium ions (K+). Valinomycin forms a complex with K+ ions, making it highly selective for their transport.

One of the main applications of valinomycin is as an ionophore in ion-selective electrodes for measuring potassium concentrations in biological samples. These electrodes exploit the ability of valinomycin to selectively bind and transport K+ ions, enabling accurate and sensitive potassium ion measurements.

Valinomycin's ability to transport potassium ions also makes it valuable in research related to ion transport and membrane potential in cells. It is used to study the role of ion channels, membrane potential, and ion gradients in various biological processes.

Moreover, valinomycin has been investigated for its potential therapeutic applications. It has shown promising results as an anticancer agent in certain types of cancer. Valinomycin induces apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells by disrupting their mitochondrial membrane potential.