Erythromycin is a member of which antibiotic class?

Erythromycin is a member of which antibiotic class?

• A. Macrolide
• B. Penicillin
• C. Cephalosporin
• D. Fluoroquinolone

Answer: (A)

Macrolide antibiotics are defined by a large macrocyclic lactone ring and a mechanism that binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit to block the translocation step of protein synthesis. Erythromycin is the classic example, sharing that macrocyclic ring structure and the ribosomal inhibition mechanism, so it is classified as a macrolide. This class is distinct from beta-lactams like penicillins and cephalosporins, which inhibit cell wall synthesis, and from fluoroquinolones, which inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Thus erythromycin is a macrolide.

Macrolide antibiotics are defined by a large macrocyclic lactone ring and a mechanism that binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit to block the translocation step of protein synthesis. Erythromycin is the classic example, sharing that macrocyclic ring structure and the ribosomal inhibition mechanism, so it is classified as a macrolide. This class is distinct from beta-lactams like penicillins and cephalosporins, which inhibit cell wall synthesis, and from fluoroquinolones, which inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Thus erythromycin is a macrolide.