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erythromycin

Modality
small molecule
Mechanism
In order to replicate, bacteria require a specific process of protein synthesis, enabled by ribosomal proteins.[A6505] Erythromycin acts by inhibition of protein synthesis by binding to the 23S ribosomal RNA molecule in the 50S subunit of ribosomes in susceptible bacterial organisms. It stops bacterial protein synthesis by inhibiting the transpeptidation/translocation step of protein synthesis and by inhibiting the assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit.[L7261,A14179] This results in the control of various bacterial infections.[A174193,L7261] The strong affinity of macrolides, including erythromycin, for bacterial ribosomes, supports their broad‐spectrum antibacterial activities.[A174193]
Targets
23S ribosomal RNA, Motilin receptor, Voltage-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channel KCNH2
Storage
Approved
acne vulgaris — FDA
In trial
Source
Last verified
2026-04-19
No curated MOA diagram yet. See lib/moa-data.ts for the shape; add an entry keyed by erythromycin.