Penicillin: Difference between revisions
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Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered. Is is an irreversible inhibitor. It permanently inactivates the key [[Enzymes|enzymes]] in [[Bacteria|bacterial]] [[Cell wall|cell walls]] <ref>Berg JM, Tymoczko JL and Stryer L, 2007, Biochemistry 6th edition, NY, W. H Freeman and Company, page 109</ref>. This is acheived by [[ | Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered. Is is an irreversible inhibitor. It permanently inactivates the key [[Enzymes|enzymes]] in [[Bacteria|bacterial]] [[Cell wall|cell walls]] <ref>Berg JM, Tymoczko JL and Stryer L, 2007, Biochemistry 6th edition, NY, W. H Freeman and Company, page 109</ref>. This is acheived by [[Covalent bonding|covalently bonding]] with a [[Serine|serine]] residue in [[Glycopeptide transpetidase|glycopeptide transpetidase]]. If bacteria can no longer sythesise cell walls, they are prevented from growing and dividing, therefore killing the infection. Our cells do not have a cell wall so we are not harmed by Penicillin<ref>Hardin J., Bertoni G., Kleinsmith L., 2011 Beckers World Of The Cell. 8th Edition, San Fransisco: Pearson Education, page 145</ref> .<br> | ||
It was in 1928 that [[Alexander Flemming|Alexander Flemming]] first noted the effect of [[Penicillium|penicillium]] on the growth of [[Staphylococci|staphyloccoci]]; yet it wasn't until 1941 that it was first used for treatment against bacterial infection. | It was in 1928 that [[Alexander Flemming|Alexander Flemming]] first noted the effect of [[Penicillium|penicillium]] on the growth of [[Staphylococci|staphyloccoci]]; yet it wasn't until 1941 that it was first used for treatment against bacterial infection. | ||
Revision as of 16:08, 2 December 2011
Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered. Is is an irreversible inhibitor. It permanently inactivates the key enzymes in bacterial cell walls [1]. This is acheived by covalently bonding with a serine residue in glycopeptide transpetidase. If bacteria can no longer sythesise cell walls, they are prevented from growing and dividing, therefore killing the infection. Our cells do not have a cell wall so we are not harmed by Penicillin[2] .
It was in 1928 that Alexander Flemming first noted the effect of penicillium on the growth of staphyloccoci; yet it wasn't until 1941 that it was first used for treatment against bacterial infection.