In: Biology
Erythromycin is best against bacteria because it targets bacterial ribosomal subunits and not eukaryotic ribosomal subunits. What does this mean??
Erythromycin is considered as the antibacterial substance that attachs to the 23s rRNA of the 50s ribosome of the bacteria. After binding, erythromycin alters the assembly of the 50s subunits of the ribosome. Erythromycin inhibits the transpeptidation step by obstructing the tunnel that exports 50s subunit. The long chain synthesis is altered and as a result a small peptide is formed.
In case of eukaryotes, they possess 60s subunit and 40s subunits. Hence, Erythromycin does not alter the protein synthesis in eukaryotes.
Erythromycin is used as an antibiotic in various gastro intestinal and respiratory diseases.