Oligomycins are the macrolide antibiotics produced by Streptomyces species such as Streptomyces diastatochromogenes, S. libani and S. avermitilis. Oligomycins exihibited a strong toxicity against other organisms, such as Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora capsici. Oligomycins showed no activity towards bacteria. Different oligomycin isomers are highly specific for the disruption of mitochondrial metabolism.
Oligomycin C is a minor antifungal compound isolated from Streptomyces strain in soil sample that acts as an inhibitor of the mitochondrial F1FO-ATP synthase [1]. Inhibition of the ATP synthase by oligomycins resulted in cell death [2].
References:
[1]. Yang P W, Li M G, Zhao J Y, et al. Oligomycins A and C, major secondary metabolites isolated from the newly isolated strain Streptomyces diastaticus[J]. Folia microbiologica, 2010, 55(1): 10-16.
[2]. Marton A, Mihalik R, Bratincsák A, et al. Apoptotic cell death induced by inhibitors of energy conservation[J]. European journal of biochemistry, 1997, 250(2): 467-475.