Erythromycin Pathway


Erythromycin is a bacteriostatic macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces erythreus. Erythromycin A is considered its major active component. In sensitive organisms, it inhibits protein synthesis by reversibly binding to 50S ribosomal subunits. After penetrating the bacterial cell membrane, erythromycin binds to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes near the “P” or donor site so that binding of transfer RNA (tRNA) to the donor site is blocked. Translocation of peptides from the “A” or acceptor site to the “P” or donor site is prevented, and subsequent protein synthesis is inhibited. Erythromycin is effective only against actively dividing organisms.

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References

  1. Erythromycin (CPhA monograph). (2009). [Electronic version]. e-CPS. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  2. Song, K.S. (2004). Ribosomal protein synthesis inhibitors. In S. Offermanns, & W. Rosenthal (Eds.). Encyclopedic reference of molecular pharmacology (pp. 827-833). Berlin, Germany: Springer.