Three-dimensional structure of the actinomycins.

Many complicated three-dimensional structures can be formulated for the actinomycins, red chromopeptide antibiotics distinguished by pronounced antineoplastic activity, because of their unique constitutional type. Since these structures largely determine the specific activity of the actinomycin molecules in the host cells, knowledge of the structural forms occurring naturally in solution is a decisive prerequisite for detailed insight into the mode of biological action of the actinomycins. Investigations by several methods have shown that, in spite of their deviating primary structures, all important actinomycins assume only one very characteristic, pseudo-C₂-symmetrical, and remarkably stable three-dimensional structural type.