Molecular structure and mechanisms of action of cyclic and linear ion transport antibiotics

As a direct result of the vision, determination, and magnetic personality of Yuri Ovchinnikov a collaboration between the Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and the Medical Foundation of Buffalo was begun in the early 1970's. The collaboration generated valuable insight into the structural basis for the capture, transport, and release of ions by ion transport antibiotics and the basis for the ion selectivity of these compounds. The collaboration produced dozens of joint publications on the structure and function of cyclic and linear ion transport antibiotics, fostered fruitful exchange visits between scientists in the two Research Institutes and has been a major source of creativity in my scientific career and those of many of my colleagues in Buffalo. This review summarizes major accomplishments of the collaboration.