Emodinanthrone, an anthraquinone, is a sprecursor of Emodin (antibiotic activity. Emodinanthrone inhibits respiration-driven solute transport at micromolar concentrations in membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli[1][2][3].
Emodinanthrone is used as an alternative substrate for the AknX oxygenase assay[1].
[1]. Jin-Young Chung, et al. Expression, purification, and characterization of AknX anthrone oxygenase, which is involved in aklavinone biosynthesis in Streptomyces galilaeus. J Bacteriol. 2002 Nov;184(22):6115-22.
[2]. T Ubbink-Kok, et al. Inhibition of electron transfer and uncoupling effects by emodin and emodinanthrone in Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986 Jul;30(1):147-51.
[3]. M K Wang, et al. Triterpenoid saponins from Berneuxia thebetica. Ptochemistry. 1998 Aug;48(8):1411-4.