[Mechanism of action of antibiotics:some examples]

Antibiotics are very commonly used substances to eradicate bacterial infections by bacteriostatic or even bactericid effect. They act at a very specific stage (target), although other less important or secondary interactions can occur. We studied the interaction of three antibiotic families (beta-lactamins, aminosides, rifampicin) with bacterial cell. Penicillin disturbs the cell wall synthesis and more accurately the glycopeptide (or murein) formation, a substance giving rigidity or shape to bacteria. It acts in the late phase of murein-biosynthesis, when N-acetyl glucosamin -- N-acetyl muramic acid L ala -D glu M-DAP (L lys) -D ala -D ala are linked together by the peptide part, under the effect of several enzymes, particularly transpeptidase and DD-carboxy-peptidase. It would appear that beta-lactame-thiazolidine rings have a steric analogy with dipeptide D-alanyl D-alanine. The result would be that the enzyme would act on the antibiotic instead of peptide: the consequence would be inhibition of the peptidic link, giving an abnormal murein, and an incomplete cell wall i.e. fragile bacteria. Aminosides, particularly Streptomycin, link themselves to 30 S subunit of bacterial ribosome. In this case, it seems that it is a 3''OH function which reacts with lysine (from S 12 protein part of 30 S subunit). The consequence is an alteration in the RNA messager lecture, and a false traduction and consequently protein biosynthesis stops with a decrease of polyribosomes and of the formation of inert 70 S ribosome. Rifamycins, and particularly Rifampicin act by inhibition of RNA messager synthesis. One molecule of antibiotic links itself to one molecule of RNA messager : hydroxyl and cetone function in C1 Cs C21 C23 and "ansa" bridge link to beta subunit of RNA polymerase. This linkage gives a conformational change to the RNA polymerase-DNA complex, inhibiting the catalytic action of this enzyme, and consequently stopping RNA messager and protein synthesis. The study of the action mechanism of these antibiotics enables us to show the action specificity of these products in the bacteria. This specificity is more accurate when the target is not to be found in the eucaryotic cells : in this case the antibiotic may be considered as entirely atoxic. If the study of the action mechanism of antibiotics gives a better understanding of the use of these drugs, their action at a definite stage in bacterial metabolism is a valuable tool for scientists in their approach to cell functioning.