Antimycin A (more exactly Antimycin A1b) is a secondary metabolite produced by Streptomyces bacteria[1] and a member of a group of related compounds called antimycins. Antimycin A is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States, as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.[2]
Antimycin A is the active ingredient in Fintrol, a chemical piscicide (fish poison) used in fisheries management.
Antimycin A was first discovered in 1945 and registered for use as a fish toxicant in 1960.[3] Fintrol ® is the only currently registered product containing Antimycin A and is classified as a restricted use pesticide because of its aquatic toxicity and requirement for highly specialized training in order to use it. In 1993, several toxicology studies were submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency yielding its toxicity.[3]
Fintrol is used primarily by federal and state governments in order to eliminate invasive species in an area where resident species are threatened. Antimycin A is added drop-wise in order to reach a concentration of 25 parts per billion.[3] These drip stations are typically used upstream in an area that is accessible to boats and traffic. In deeper bodies of water, a pump mechanism is used to disperse Antimycin A through a perforated hose stretching the length of the water column.
In aquaculture, Antimycin A is used as an agent to enhance catfish production via selective killing small and more sensitive species. When Antimycin A is added at 25 ppb it provides a complete kill. However at 10 ppb, Antimycin A is used as a selective killing agent to kill smaller or more sensitive species that may reduce the yield of commercial farming.
Products Containing Antimycin A can be registered providing they follow risk mitigation procedures.[3]
| Risk of Concern | Mitigation Measures |
|---|---|
| Exposure from consuming treated water |
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| Exposure from consuming treated fish |
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| Exposure from recreational activities in the treated water |
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| Occupational Exposure |
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| Ecological Risk Quotients for non-target species |
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To date there has been no usage in human medicine, although its possibility as a chemotherapeutic was explored.[3]
Antimycin A is an inhibitor of cellular respiration, specifically oxidative phosphorylation. Antimycin A binds to the Qi site of cytochrome c reductase, inhibiting the reduction of ubiquinone to ubiquinol in the Qi site, thereby disrupting the Q-cycle of enzyme turn over. It also will cause the disruption of the entire electron transport chain. Due to this, there can be no production of ATP. Cytochrome c reductase is a central enzyme in the electron transport chain of oxidative phosphorylation.[4] The inhibition of this reaction disrupts the formation of the proton gradient across the inner membrane of the mitochondria. The production of ATP is subsequently inhibited, as protons are unable to flow through the ATP synthase complex in the absence of a proton gradient. This inhibition also results in the formation of the toxic free radical superoxide.[5] In presence of antimycin A the dependence of the superoxide production rate on oxygen level is hyperbolic.[6] In cultured cells at the background of mitochondrial respiration inhibition, the rate of superoxide production exceeds the cellular mechanisms to scavenge it, overwhelming the cell and leading to cell death.
It has also been found to inhibit the cyclic electron flow within photosynthetic systems along the proposed ferredoxin quinone reductase pathway.[7]
Although cyanide acts to block the electron transport chain, Antimycin A and cyanide act in different mechanisms. Cyanide binds a site in neighboring protein where iron normally binds, preventing oxygen from binding at all. This prevents cellular respiration completely leading to cell death.[8] Because Antimycin A binds to a specific protein in the electron transport chain, its toxicity can be highly species dependent because of subtle species specific differences in ubiquinol. This is why Fintrol can be used a selective killing agent in commercial farming.
Fungus-growing attine ants have been shown to use antimycins - produced by symbiotic Streptomyces bacteria - in their fungiculture, to inhibit non-cultivar (i.e. pathogenic) fungi.[9] One research group studying these symbiotic Streptomyces bacteria recently identified the biosynthetic gene cluster for antimycins, which was unknown despite the compounds themselves being identified 60 years ago. Antimycins are synthesised by a hybrid polyketide synthase (PKS)/non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS).[10]
Lethal doses in fish and amphibian species
| Species | LC50/24 hours exposure | LC50/96 hours exposure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | 0.07 ppb | 0.04 ppb | |
| Black Bullhead Catfish | 200 ppb | 45 ppb | |
| Channel Catfish | >10 ppb | 9 ppb | |
| Goldfish | 1 ppb | ||
| Snails | 800 ppb | ||
| Tiger salamander | >1080 ppb | ||
| Tadpoles | 45 ppb | 10 ppb | |
| Leopard Frog | 45 ppb | 10 ppb |
Lethal Doses in Mammals
| Animal | LD50 mg/kg ingested | |
|---|---|---|
| Rat | 28 | |
| Mouse | 25 | |
| Lamb | 1-5 | |
| Dog | >5 | |
| Rabbit | 10 |
Exposure to Treated Water:The effects of chronic, sub-lethal human exposure have estimated and extrapolated from murine (=pertaining to rodents) toxicology studies. Estimates in the literature have been determined using EPA risk assessment protocols.[11] Studies aimed at determining these levels found a concentration in mice where there is "No Observed Adverse Effect Level." From there, the EPA describes methods to determine a reference dose (RfD), the upper limit of the substance that can be consumed daily for the rest of one's life without any observable consequences. The RfD was determined to be 1.7 micrograms/kg/day.[12] For a grown adult, weighing around 70 kg, they can safely consume 2 liters of treated water at 60ppb.
Toxic effects may result from accidental ingestion of the material. Animal toxicology studies suggest that exposure to less than 40 grams of Antimycin A can result in serious adverse health effects to the individual.[13]
| Route of Exposure | Effect | |
|---|---|---|
| Eye |
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| Skin |
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| Inhaled |
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Treatment is focused on relieving symptoms and monitoring for respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, seizures, and shock.[13] Emesis after ingestion is not recommended for the potential of central nervous system depression.[14] Activated charcoal can be given as 240mL of water with 30g of charcoal.[14] The patient should be monitored for development of systemic symptoms and signs. After inhalation the patient should be moved to fresh air and monitored for bronchospasm, difficulty breathing, and respiratory distress. If needed, provide the patient with oxygen and secure an airway via tracheal intubation. Treat bronchospasm with inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist and severe bronchospasm can be treated with systemic corticosteroids.[14]