nonactin
/nɒnˈaktɪn/Biochemistry and Pharmacology
noun
A macrolide compound produced by Streptomyces griseus, C40H64O12, which has antibiotic activity but is used chiefly as an experimental ionophore.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Helvetica Chimica Acta. From German Nonactin from non- + Actin- (in Actinomycetes), with allusion to Aktion (with reference to its initial failure to exhibit antibiotic activity).