acivicin acivicin acivicin is an analog of glutamine. it is an inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl transferase. acivicin names iupac name (2s)-aminoethanoic acid other names antibiotic at 125 identifiers cas number 42228-92-2 n 3d model (jsmol) interactive image chebi chebi:74545 n chembl chembl1231101 n chemspider 259938 y pubchem cid 294641 unii o0x60k76i6 y comptox dashboard (epa) dtxsid0046010 inchi inchi=1s/c5h7cln2o3/c6-3-1-2(11-8-3)4(7)5(9)10/h2,4h,1,7h2,(h,9,10)/t2-,4-/m0/s1 ykey: qawihijwnyolbe-okkqscsosa-n yinchi=1s/c5h7cln2o3/c6-3-1-2(11-8-3)4(7)5(9)10/h2,4h,1,7h2,(h,9,10)/t2-,4-/m0/s1 smiles cl\c1=n\o((c(=o)o)n)c1 properties chemical formula c5h7cln2o3 molar mass 178.574 except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). n verify (what is yn ?) infobox references it is a fermentation product of streptomyces sviceus. it interferes with glutamate metabolism and inhibits glutamate dependent synthesis of enzymes, and is thereby potentially helpful in treatment of solid tumors. after its discovery in 1972, acivicin was studied as an anti-cancer agent, but trials were unsuccessful due to toxicity. research an in vitro study showed that acivicin at a concentration of 5 μm acivicin inhibited by 78% the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma cells (mia paca-2) after 72 hours in continuous culture. it was also found that acivicin at a concentration of 450 μm irreversibly inactivated mia paca-2 γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (10 nmol/min/106 cells) with an inactivation half-life of 80 minutes. phase i studies phase i dose escalating studies conducted in 23 cancer patients administered acivicin with a concomitant 96-h i.v. infusion of a mixture of 16 amino acids showed reversible, dose-limiting cns toxicity, characterized by lethargy, confusion and decreased mental status.