The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
actinomycin \actinomycin\ n. [From actinomyces, the genus of the
organism in which they were first found.]
1. any of various red antibiotics isolated from soil bacteria
with a three-ring heterocyclic nucleus with an attached
peptide chain.
Note: Actinomycin D is the most well-known and has been used
to treat certain tumors. They act by binding to DNA and
inhibiting the transcription of RNA. Their binding to
DNA has been much studied.
Syn: actinomycin actinomycin C actinomycin F1
actinomycin D
[WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
actinomycin D \actinomycin D\ n. [From actinomyces, the genus of
the organism in which they were first found.]
The most well-known of the actinomycins (C62H86N12O16), a
class of antibiotics which act by binding to DNA and
inhibiting synthesis of RNA; they act agains gram-positive
bacteria and many eukaryotic organisma. Actinomycin D has
been used in human medicine to treat certain tumors.
Syn: dactinomycin, actinomycin IV, Cosmegen[trade name],
actinomycin C1, actinomycin I1
[PJC]