Molecular Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Action

摘要

Antibiotics have been found to inhibit (1) cellwall synthesis (penicillin), (2) protein synthesis (chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, streptomycin, erythromycin), (3) RNA synthesis, and (4) DNA synthesis. Mechanisms by which these effects are produced have been studied and typical results of this research are reported. Chloramphenicol and erythromycin appear to inhibit protein biosynthesis by direct interaction with ribosomes. In all instances, the antimicrobial actions occurred in the general area of macromolecular biosynthesis and assemblage.