Fosmidomycin

[3 - (N- Hydroxyformamido )-propyl ] -phosphonic acid

Antibiotic

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Fosmidomycin is an antibiotic from Streptomyces lavendulae, a Streptomyces species.

It inhibits the Methylerythritolphosphatweg, of the biosynthesis of the terpene building blocks isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP ) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate ( DMAPP ) leads. This can be found eg in Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria.

IPP and DMAPP the basic building blocks involved in the production of hormones, cholesterol, cell membranes, and protein structures. In their absence, the malaria parasite must die. The enzyme which is inhibited by fosmidomycin, the deoxy-D- xylulose -5-phosphate reductase.