plicamycin

P3L1I1C3A1M3Y4C3I1N1
US/ˌplaɪ.kəˈmaɪ.sn̩/

noun

An antibiotic C₅₂H₇₆O₂₄ with antineoplastic activity which is produced by three bacteria of the genus Streptomyces (Streptomyces argillaceus, Streptomyces tanashiensis, and Streptomyces plicatus), acts by inhibiting DNA transcription and replication, and is administered intravenously especially in the treatment of malignant tumors of the testes or in the treatment of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria associated with advanced neoplastic disease.

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Meanings

nounplicamycin (uncountable)

alternative UK mithramycin

  1. uncountablemedicineAn antibiotic C₅₂H₇₆O₂₄ with antineoplastic activity which is produced by three bacteria of the genus Streptomyces (Streptomyces argillaceus, Streptomyces tanashiensis, and Streptomyces plicatus), acts by inhibiting DNA transcription and replication, and is administered intravenously especially in the treatment of malignant tumors of the testes or in the treatment of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria associated with advanced neoplastic disease.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
aureolic acid

Origin

From translingual (Streptomyces) plica(tus) + -mycin (“antibiotic derived from Streptomyces”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

plicamycin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plicamycin

MLA

“plicamycin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plicamycin. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “plicamycin,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plicamycin.

Source: plicamycin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.